Jess & James *** (2015, Martín Karich, Nicolás Romeo, Federico Fontán) – Classic Movie Review 12,524

The lively and liberating 2015 Argentinian film Jess & James stars Martín Karich as bohemian, hedonistic young Jess and Nicolás Romeo as mother dominated James, who hook up and set off on a fun-filled, loving freedom road trip across rural Argentina.

Writer-director Santiago Giralt’s lively and liberating 2015 Argentinian film Jess & James stars Martín Karich as bohemian, hedonistic young Jess (or Gerónimo) and Nicolás Romeo as mother dominated James, who first hook up sexually and then set off on a liberating and loving freedom road trip across rural Argentina. The goal is to meet Jess’s long-estranged brother, who ran off with and married Jess’s babysitter, but, along the way, the boys just wanna have fun.

They find fun with a provocative young man called Tomás (Federico Fontán) in a threesome that instead of destroying Jess & James somehow manages to bring them closer. They grow in affection, in love, discovering new freedom and happiness.

Jess & James is hot and provocative, a bright and busy little item as a gay sexually charged road movie, a love story and a coming-of-age tale, set against the lovely Argentinian Pampas landscape. The film is free-spirited and free-wheeling, and sexy, with very nice visuals, beautiful photographed Pampas scenery, and cute music too.

The boys don’t come of age at all. They stay young and learn to be carefree and enjoy life, hopefully for ever. Those looking for a traditional story, or a straight story of any kind, will be mighty frustrated. But then road trip movies don’t usually have a story arc. They simply follow a line. This one doesn’t just stop suddenly. It has a proper ending. But it has a conclusion that may irritate some viewers too. The story may seem to be on the road to nowhere, but it’s a fun ride. Are the boys going places? What’s their next stop?

Director: Santiago Giralt. Writer: Santiago Giralt. Stars: Martín Karich, Nicolás Romeo, Federico Fontán.

It runs 92 minutes.

The United Kingdom DVD premiere was on October 12, 2015.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,524

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com