Summer with the Guys

Summer with the Guys is literally what it says on the tin, it’s a summer with the guys… and gals LOL. It brings a big splash of humour, laughs and sufficient drama to have you thinking of some life choices plus we get to return to the blessed era of cinema where you have big grown adults playing college kids LOL gotta love it!

We meet 4 college American football players at the top of their game. They have it all! Skills, popularity, wins, fame, and the looks to go with it. It’s pure stardom, what could go wrong? Well, they are informed all their scholarships have been revoked so they will now need to pay for tuition… after numerous unsuccessful attempts at securing jobs, luck finally finds them and they find a gig as strippers. From here the dollars start rolling in but they also get sucked into the underworld of drugs, sex, dealing etc. it’s a rollercoaster from beginning to end with no shortcomings of hilarity. Hold onto your seats, it’s a fun ride!

It’s a magnificent cast ensemble. A combination of veteran actors mixed with the up and coming, we get a high level of quality performances. Terrence Green is both director and lead actor, he plays DC. The smooth, slick, ladies’ man who always has a plan… for everything. He’s brilliant in his role as chief mastermind, hustler, and playboy. Bmore is the muscle of the group. He’s the focused athlete who always opts for the righteous path but tends to be a bit slow in thoughts lol. Played by Brashaad Mayweather he embraces his characters attributes diligently. Dan is played well by James Hal Hardy, our local meditator. He plays the hint of Caucasian every melanin filled feature picture requires. He’s the innocence of the group. With not-so-great ideas but heart in the right place… he’s the pasty white counterpart who gets a pass to the barbeque because he’s harmless. The Jesus jokes just kept flowing ha-ha. Last but not least we have Jay, the clown of the group. The heavy source of comedic prowess. From scene 1 he just brings laughs. I am still thinking of whether I’m ready to try the donut challenge (PAUSE) but I can’t stop laughing at it. He brings the energy and enthusiasm to the group; I can even say to the whole movie. Brannon Watts Watson is gifted. We are blessed with some royalty actors and actresses in both cameo and small roles. We see the beautiful Lisa Yaro showcase her range in the little role she has. She’s a stern no nonsense interviewer at one point then next she’s a ratchet party animal telling a man to bark like a dog ha-ha it’s a sight to be seen. Dean Wil plays the somewhat big bad of the movie as Big Hev. He just has the screen presence for that kind of role. Lina Outler as Ms Cash embracing her Lisa Raye-esque looks matching the role. I caught funny cameos from Wuz Good and Tamera Kissen.

In the world of independent films this here operates at a medium drawer level in regards production.

With a low budget estimated around $350k you can see every dollar was well spent and perhaps even stretched. The soundtrack is fitting for the movie’s atmosphere.

Litness, vibes and feel-good mood setting. Stand out tracks for me are Big Drip, Patience, and Demon Time (may not be the correct names, forgive me). The cinematography is basic and the props like weapons are not up to standard but due to the jokes and story it’s something you can bypass. The movie has some good collage like scene transitions for example showing their growth in the stripper industry coupled with some good backing tracks. The major flaw here is the audio. There are parts it drops in and out and even parts where it’s out of sync but again there’s enough here to look past it. One side that really allows the film to shine are the extras on the screen. They feel so natural with everyone playing their mini parts or just doing their own thing in the background, it helps drive the authenticity of the film.

Summer with the Guys comes with some insane stand out moments and also brings some down to earth life lessons. From Shauna’s crazy ass to stripper dance rehearsals to weirdo Mr Simpson to folks having sex with a large selection of snacks… there’s a lot to experience here. The chemistry between our 4 characters is what keeps us locked in. The story centre’s around “go get it by any means” which is so relatable especially with this cost of living we are going through. The lesson of how taking one step into crime life can lead to 10 further steps and land you in all sorts of troubles resonated with me. We watched as 4 innocent best friends fell deep into a cycle of drug addiction and crime.

Overall, it’s a return to a genre we have missed. We genre that brings both nostalgia and introduces to the new school to the space. Regardless of the now super sensitive world that we live in I hope to see more directors, writers, producers continue to take these brave steps. Not censoring their creativity, just being free with it. It’s a recommended watch!!

Who was your favourite character? Do you want to see a “Winter with the girls” sequel? Will the boys ever get a real job? Will coach ever get another job? React and comment below…

WATCH THE FULL MOVIE HERE!!!