Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
The Best Friend (O Melhor Amigo) is a dramatic comedy about love, friendship and self-discovery set in Canoa Quebrada.
Although Lucas (Vinicius Teixeira) cares deeply for his boyfriend, Martin (Leo Bahia), he sees him more as a friend than a lover. Martin is boisterous and over the top, which the reserved Lucas sometimes has a difficult time handling. So, when Martin tries to propose to him in a public display that involves a bullhorn and fireworks, Lucas breaks up with him.
To clear his mind, Lucas takes a vacation to Canoa Quebrada. After checking into his hotel, he runs into Filipe (Gabriel Fuentes), a friend from university who works as a tour guide. While in university, he and Felipe had a brief affair that ended with Felipe leaving out of the blue. Lucas never got over Felipe’s sudden departure and seeing him again brings up old feelings and desires. And with that, the drama begins.
Some Thoughts:
The Best Friend is one of the most refreshing movies I’ve seen in years. It takes place in a laid-back beach community full of vibrant colors, beautiful backgrounds, and a cast of flirtatious characters who set the tone. Also, there are some musical numbers scattered throughout that enhance the overall sense of fun and flow well with the story.
Although this movie doesn’t have anything that knocks it out of the park, I’m giving it an extra half a star for pure enjoyment. It sucked me in from the start, and the more it went on, the better it got. This is mostly because all the characters are relatable and have some depth, which I didn’t expect from a light romantic drama.
Where the film fails is showing Lucas’ journey from the being afraid of the world around him to embracing life. We get a sense of it, but there’s never a moment where you see it click. Still, I would recommend this movie to anybody. I’m smiling just remembering it.
The Final Verdict:
The Best Friend (O Melhor Amigo) has a cast of relatable characters who look like real people. Its light story, musical numbers, and overall sexiness will draw you in and keep you entertained.