Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Three Months is a drama about a high school boy, Caleb (Troye Sivan), who finds out that he was exposed to HIV on the day before he graduates.
Caleb lives with his grandmother (Ellen Burstyn) and her boyfriend, Benny (Louis Gossett Jr). Although they know he’s gay, Caleb doesn’t tell them about his exposure so that his grandmother won’t worry about him. While waiting three months for the final results, Caleb hangs out with his best friend and co-worker, Dara (Brianne Tju), an out lesbian who is having an affair with their married boss, Suzanne (Judy Greer).
While attending a support group, Caleb meets Estha (Viveik Kalra), who is also eighteen and waiting for the final results of his HIV test. With so much in common, Caleb and Estha get to know each other, which makes Dara feel like a third wheel. And with that, the drama begins.
Some Thoughts:
Three Months has the look and feel of an after school special about HIV. The acting isn’t very good, and the drama is contrived. It also doesn’t help that Caleb doesn’t appear to be freaked out by his exposure to the STD. He says he’s going to become celibate, but it sounds more like a line than something said from fear or concern.
The story spends more time on Caleb’s relationship with Estha, his friendship with Dara, and his concern for his grandmother than the HIV test. While all of that is worthy of exploration, the topics aren’t delved into enough to bring forth any emotion. Everything feels very surface, as if there was very little heart put into making the movie.
With more thought, this could have been an interesting film. It has issues of identity, family, and friendship, all of which resonate with audiences. And although the acting isn’t great, it never ruins the film. It’s the lack of substance that makes this movie so dull.
The Final Verdict:
Three Months is a drama that never gets off the ground.