More Than Only (2017) User Reviews

Sweet.

[abynorml29 · 7/10 · 31 July 2022]

More Than Only is like, if Mormons teamed up with Hallmark and made a gay baby. That's NOT a negative thing, it just is what it is. It's the clean-cut, child-like, sweet, (with one monstrous experience, told off-handedly) gay movie you could watch with your conservative parents. As long as your parents aren't like Justin's controlling, mentally abusive father.

My main criticism would be: the dialog and acting could have been a little more natural, but it was a story with a lot of heart which made up for its flaws.

A Diamond in the rough

[davemerino · 6/10 · 23 March 2021]

I see a post or 3, that it was too long - the movie is literally 67 minutes Others post that it is boring, not realistic, over acted, etc... - the actor playing Justin Jhonson plays his quirky character to a T, as it was written. He is acting out against his father. His father calls 2 times a semester & afterwards Justin ends up in the ER.

At a bar night out, Justin spots a piano player & falls in love. The rest of the movie is about Justin fending off his father's judgments & him trying to prove to Michael how much he loves him.

I've spent the last 2 years, after I cut the cable "cable", watching mostly gay content, Prime, Netflix, HereTV, Strand Releasing, Dekko, YouTube - anything I could find. This film falls into my top 5 faves.

It might be low budget, but it does a great job. It reminds me of Defying Gravity's low budget/success (in my opinion).

I very highly recommend it

Meh...I've seen worse.

[rob_k37 · 7/10 · 7 November 2021]

My biggest criticism is that it's obvious this film was directed and written by a woman. The plot and interaction between the gay leads did not ring true. It felt like a Hallmark movie, and was not at all a realistic representation of young gay men falling in love.

If only they made this film more serious

[him090296 · 26 January 2023]

If only they made this film more serious. I don't know why they make this film as light as possible. From the beginning, the background of the music shifted the feel of the sad story and beyond it. I know the execution of the film will not go as I imagined or I want. Why do they act awkwardly and can't they not talk much? That makes them unbelievable and the chemistry feels fake. I am glad that I am not the only one who found the main character was so annoying. I apologize if I underestimate the character. I know this might be a reality in the real world. But he is always surrounded by friends who support him, and finally there is someone who loves him and that someone loves you back. But you choose suicide. Like seriously? Tell me to protect them from what Justin? That's sounds not a big deal for me. Okay, go for conclusions. The main problem here is that the relationship between father and son is not explored more shown in -depth struggle, and that makes the rest of the movie is as silly as the beginning. I really wanted to like this film actually because of the nice story.

Long, boring but so many meaning quote

[tranngocthanhtu · 6/10 · 22 August 2020]

Long but not so interesting or funny, i try to watch untill the end as if it have something special, it does, with really meaning words, finally i felt the connected from start till end, which pleasant me so i have no regret watching this movie.

Nice Story, Poorly executed

[JJ-Chi · 3/10 · 13 March 2021]

This had potential, but was ruined by the acting and singing. It was very difficult to take any of this seriously since everyone seemed so awkward and unbelievable in their role: it was like watching a high school play ...only ten times more painful!

I wanted to like this, but everything about this just seemed so fake. The singing was, by far, the worst.

A very gentle tale

[peterhumphrey-76351 · 9/10 · 28 February 2020]

I have viewed this film twice and it is still very watchable. I found the whole story very believable and quite touching. I am impressed by actors and production staff on all fronts. This is a very highly recommended film. Shame it is not on DVD

Better to watch a daytime soap-opera.

[fdc2 · 4/10 · 31 December 2020]

It's just too contrived, too melodramatic and overacted for what it is, and the music/singing is just bad.

Undeserving of the harsh critique

[sadlbuttru · 9/10 · 5 June 2022]

I have just found this gem and was sad to see the overly negative response and lower than average score of this movie. Yes, it's not perfect but it certainly is a good story about coming to terms with yourself, having to put effort into a relationship and finding your own path in life. I have found it a bit overly dramatic at times while others seem to think it's boring or too slowly paced. What I find very insensitive is to say that it's clearly written by a woman because it focuses on things not relevant to men, like please, every person is individual and categorically dividing "men" from "women" is absolutely not okay today that we know more about gender and outdated gender roles. Also it's super unfair to say the lead actors are unattractive because looks are subjective and I'm here for the story not to find a partner myself. Yes, one of them is very egoistic and unsympathetic in the beginning, but also you can see the character development throughout the story, which is really nice. Also, I liked for a change that the film focuses on other things such as forming a bond, trust or the support from friends rather than sex and parties. Plus it has a happy end and a lot of good advise I can take for myself. On top of that, the whole movie is freely available on YouTube, so if you haven't, I strongly suggest you check it out yourself!

Ewwwa

[tommy5677 · 5/10 · 14 March 2021]

I really wanted to like this movie but as time went on I found it more and more difficult. I have to admit it's well produced and the direction and camerawork are tolerable. The storyline and plot is almost original.

At the very beginning it becomes obvious that this guy has a monster for a father. Whether that has anything to do with the man he's become is questionable but the thing that makes this the most difficult is that the protagonist is so hard to like. Seriously.

His childlike antics are nothing but a huge annoyance right out of the gate, from leaping out of the window to desperately trying to garner a date with someone who doesn't even want to know him. Honestly, if somebody told me I had to perform three impossible tasks to just get a date with them, I would probably be able to take the hint they don't want to go out with me.

The best part of the whole movie is the scene where a bunch of college students are sitting around eating pizza and chocolate and playing Chutes and Ladders.

Could Michael RN possibly succeed at making this guy likable? Only time will tell but I have my doubts.

And then there is the scene at the miniature golf course. It was nothing short of ridiculous. Not only was it unbelievable but it made the characters look silly and stupid, like somehow less than men. School boys would be more like it. Ok. Middle school.

My favorite movies in the gay theme genre are the romcoms. Many are good but some are not. This one falls squarely into the some are not. Need I go on? No because the rest of the movie is as silly as the beginning.

No. Not on bended knee. Don't do it. Don't do it. Oooohh. He did it. Nooooo!

Boring

[gyorgymuresan · 2/10 · 23 March 2021]

One of the most boring LGBT movies I have ever seen.

Life enhacing in desperate times.

[jromanbaker · 10/10 · 20 March 2020]

This is that rare thing a life enhancing film. The two lead actors give incredible performances and as a film it is solid, beautiful and incredibly moving. What could have been clichés turn into little miracles of joy, and at this terrible time of March 2020 gently reminds us that despite exterior walls there should be no inner walls between us. As I watched it I felt it was time to release ourselves from every definition other than the basic fact we are all human and vulnerable. And maybe it is time to shed the weight of Gay and Queer and all other categories and simply to be what we are; diverse human beings without a label and after this virus that has taken over this planet to come together as human beings who have turned a page of history. This film in its simplicity and beauty of form and content seemed to me a beacon for the future. In 2017 none of what is happening could be predicted and yet as I watched it I saw the refusal of little boxes as represented by society blown away. Love wins over all bigotry and hatred, and a big thank you for the director and the cast for reminding us in subtle, but clear ways that the former repressions must go. Film can be a guide to the future and this film scores 10 in every scene, every gesture and every action. We are all going through a big test, but the two lovers in this film had three and they came through. And two requests; cast off definitions of sexuality, and please bring this out on DVD. Shops may close but this DVD could be waiting for us at the end of the tunnel

Waste of Time

[ChicagoMan41 · 1/10 · 14 December 2021]

I could not sit through the entire length of this horrid film. The lead is a very unlikeable character, for some reason full of himself and yet not remotely good looking. It is obvious that a woman wrote and directed the movie because she knows nothing about male interaction, gay or straight.

Powerful and Moving!

[ianliberatore · 10/10 · 5 March 2020]

I consider myself lucky to have stumbled upon this magnificent film! I have seen my fair share of gay films but this takes the gay as one if there best out there as well as being very original and not falling into the cliche films I had come to expect from what I typically see. The main characters were greatly portrayed by amazing actors in very unique roles that made me want to invest not only my time by my heart into them. The film is low budget but does not look it what so everWhich is another great feat that I was not expecting and was pleased to see. Props to the writer and director for crafting a great story which has now become one of my absolute favorites (I watched it twice in one day). I only wish this was available on DVD. I look forward to seeing more from the cast and director.

Really cute movie

[dbblankenship · 24 February 2021]

Jonathan is one to watch. So much charisma. A cute movie overall.

Bad Acting

[leonardohenrique · 4/10 · 22 May 2022]

The actors are horrible, boring movie, it doesn't hold you, you keep wanting it to end soon.

The actors are horrible, boring movie, it doesn't hold you, you keep wanting it to end soon.

Priscilla Don't Preach!

[akira-hideyo · 1/10 · 8 August 2021]

Yak yak yak... Preach, preach, preach.... Enough already. Bad wooden acting, overreaching, contrived extended plot. Cringe worthy, thus the 1 star for eliciting some reaction. Where's the director's 99% cut when it's truly needed.

Satisfying love story....at last!

[Remy_Azhary · 8/10 · 8 November 2021]

I stumbled upon this movie wile browsing on YouTube and thought I'd give it watch. As with many other low-budget gay movies, it did start off being cheesy and daytime soap-ish. But as the movie progressed the story was pretty sweet and endearing.

I was in love with both Justin and Michael; with Justin's persistent courting antic in getting Michael out for a date from the start might come across as being too sweet but I loved it.

As with many other Rom-Com's, I was expecting the drama or conflict to set in halfway and I was like wondering if this movie is for real? But the conflict did actually start about two-third into the movie.

But I was afraid that the conflict might leave me unsettled but as it turned out the movie ended the way I like it - a fantasy that I myself am not able to achieve but at least it gave me that escapism of true love.

In conclusion, I don't mind if the performances were wooden or not even Oscar-worthy for that matter. What matters was the warmth that it gave me.

Time consuming ... play at 2x speed if you must watch this

[david-16239 · 3/10 · 9 June 2023]

I really wanted to like the story, in spite of its sophomoric contrivance, but the painful, wooden acting had me checking the progress bar again and again to see how much more there remained to endure. The characters don't engage in dialogue (or convincingly engage, period), they speechify *AT* one another. What might otherwise have been seamless, natural conversations were instead a litany of jarring transactions, periodically punctuated by the plot device of notebook scribbling accompanied by a preachy, anodyne voice-over. Given the commendable cinematography, the most enjoyable parts of the film are when the characters aren't saying anything.

Full of Soulness

[lissethdcastanos · 10/10 · 3 May 2020]

I am not very good at writing reviews at all. But I have no choice today. If you haven't watch this movie It's a must watch. It is a Beautiful, emotional comedy, full of love drama.

I laughed so much, I felt pain & so much joy I can't even express the love I felt in it. The sincerity And believe me, I have seen my fair share of gay movies and this was just beyond inspiring and full of wisdom.

You won't regret to spend your time watching this.

Quote: "Remember than the human experience is made more beautiful by the contribution of individuals who enrich our lives and expand our perspectives. Not by being normal, but by being weird and unique and different from ourselves"

A quirky film driven by character development

[codygdietrich · 10/10 · 10 March 2021]

It is a good film driven by character development. It is a "slow moving" film in that it is not an action film or a romance that boarders on porn. It is a movie about who people are and the relationships they have with others around them, family, friends, romantic partners and how the relationships affect how people view themselves. The story is partly about young rebellion and finding oneself, as much as it is about trauma, physical, mental, emotional and how that affects a person's life and identity. I think it's a truly great film because it doesn't fit into a stereotypical bubble, it feels different, better than most dramatic comedies.

The film is genius!

[info-90698 · 10/10 · 5 January 2021]

Well... it's not. But it is really fun! Jonathan Miles is hilarious, Bjorn Anderson is smouldering and the story is just enchanting. How are movies like this not being properly funded by studios?

Also, that's the most fun I've ever had watching two grown-up men play crazy gold. Not a euphemism! Enjoyment + rewatchability + quotability = 10 stars!

A really Great LBGT Feel Good Love story

[bgoo-19890 · 9/10 · 15 November 2021]

This is just my opinion as a Gay man' with no talent who has experience with some of the things in the movie.

The Chemistry between Jonathan Daniel Miles as justin and. Bjorn Anderson as Michael makes you believe they are a couple in RL! There are some exchanges that are dead on funny with perfect timing. There are a few places in the movie I was really touched by how romantic they were. Michael tells Justin a poem he wrote about the soul.. They cutt to Justins face and he is sitting there. A look of Love and Awe on his face. The other time is the scene at Valentines, Michael sings a really lousey song with meaningful lyric to Justin. Cut away and Jonathan Miles is crying freely. That ,I think,is very hard to do for an actor. Justin's Mother and Father Played by Dennis Wells and Gina. Summers they are characters that I found easy to hate. Watch this movie It was a fun way to spend part of a Lazy Sunday!

Believable, heart wrenching but beautiful story

[bhsppskca-85921 · 10/10 · 31 July 2021]

I've watched it a couple of times and loved it. The characters, actors, and the story is just wonderful. You laugh, shake your head, shed tears then feel hope. Justins words, especially at the end, are so true. I hate parents like Justins, and would've given anything to have a son like him.

The medical scenes were the most accurate I've even seen in a movie. They did it right! Then the credits showed everyone were RN & Drs. Great job.

Good low budget

[paul31415 · 8/10 · 16 January 2022]

Make no mistake, this is no Oscar material.

However, there is a freshness and soulfulness about this movie. The acting is not always perfect (and don't get me started on the singing) but, as Statler-and-Waldorf as I usually am, I was able to overlook the imperfections.

Granted, the two main characters are more charming and lifelike than most pixel-perfect actors.

Kudos for the happy ending, I am so fed up with bad endings that have no reason other than to make the movie edgy or whatever.

There was a short TV series comedy planned in 2021 but sadly it seems it wasn't made.