Timothy is a gay teen who wants nothing more than to go through high school without the ridicule that comes with his sexual preference. However, there is no way that will happen. But even with all the jokes, Timothy gets a rejuvenating boost when he is cast as Puck in William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' To top it all off, one night while studying his lines, he magically discovers the play's love-potion. With little hesitation, Timothy begins to turn his closed-wind town gay, allowing them all to walk for a while in his shoes. But when the actions begin to get out of control, he restores the town's free will, nervously awaiting their post-spell outlook on him and others of his kind.
Starring newcomer Tanner Cohen, Were the World Mine is an interesting concept that struggles in its transition from page to screen. The acting, story and premise are all present; but for some reason, the flow was handicapped by a few uninfringement plot lines, keeping the film in a good, though not stellar place.
As the film starts out, we are introduced to Timothy, a typical high school guy who just happens to 'bat for the other team.' Played by Tanner Cohen, Timothy gives audiences an inside look into the struggles and worries that plague teens today. But Timothy is meant to be more than an eye-opening visual as he leads the charge in the film, setting the stage for a unique and youthful turn on one of literature's most beloved plays. While the story is the obvious backbone to the film, Cohen's performance deserves a lot of credit as he takes a simple role and creates a texture that not only complicates it, but showcases the rigors of reality.
As for the supporting roles, they were decent, though nothing to call home about. The most recognizable name would be that of Zelda Williams, daughter to funny-man Robin Williams. Playing one of Timothy's two best friends, Frankie, Zelda is one of the few supporting stars to create a presence on the screen, showcasing a minority of her talent and giving audiences a taste of what she is truly capable of. Unfortunately, she is the only supporting star to really cause a stir as the rest get lost in the muffle, failing to combat Cohen's performance, and therefore never earning the undivided attention of the audience.
Regardless, the film simply survives on its story. Using 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by William Shakespeare, writers Tom Gustafson and Cory James Krueckeberg modernized the tale, bringing it to life through music and fantasy. Yet the story doesn't rely on either aspect to succeed. Instead, it is the unique and cleverly written dialogue, along with the predictable, though someone interesting conclusion that helps to close the film just in the nick of time. For only a few more minutes and the film would have quickly turned into another overdone story about the struggles of a gay teen. But with the perfectly timed finale, the film ended on a high note, bringing respect to everyone involved and showcasing the vast talent that will surely rise over the coming years.
In a nutshell, the film wasn't amazing. But when compared to other films of its kind, it stands leaps and bounds above, setting a high benchmark for any such film that chooses to follow.
