A middle-aged indie filmmaker fears he might never find true love or success. Director Jeff London and his partner co-wrote this romantic story, based on their relationship.
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Jeff London directed this very personal story. He co-wrote and co-produced it with his partner, James Steven Handshoe, creating a script that was inspired by the true story of how they fell in love. Paul F. Burchett executive produced, while Timothy Dam and Curtis Gropp served as associate producers. Most of those people have worked with London before or are working on his upcoming comedy/horror film, Pizza Boy Massacre.
Mel England plays David, an indie filmmaker turning fifty. The birthday becomes an obsession, forcing him to evaluate his career and everything he expected from life. His boyfriend Greg (Nate Moore) seems to care about him but not to understand him or respect his creative ambitions. Both men obviously sense the inevitable end of their relationship.
Peter Stickles (from Shortbus and Here TV’s The Lair) plays David’s best friend James, who thinks David should meet his cousin Shane (Tom Saporito). The men initially make contact through instant messaging; that scene drags a bit, but that’s the only time this story slows down.
David stands at a crossroads both in career and personal life, as he fears he might live the rest of his life without true love or a sense of true success. We immediately see chemistry in the first meeting between David and Shane, even if they’re initially too nervous to look at anything but the floor.
David’s worries about the fifteen-year age difference between himself and Shane might sabotage their potential relationship. In fact, David isn’t sure if Shane likes him, or if Shane is even gay. Ace Lundon plays an older and wiser gay friend who puts David’s myriad concerns into perspective.
David talks about how changes to the independent movie industry threaten his ability to reach an already limited audience. The script includes some obvious references to Jeff London’s other movies, though David never refers to them by name. It also affectionately shows how the real-life relationship behind the script began to blossom. With Best Day Ever, London delivers a love letter both to his fans and to his partner.
Best Day Ever is romantic, touching, and sometimes funny in its honest portrayal of a gay man searching for love and a satisfying career. I have been following London’s work for a long time and think this is easily one of his best films ever. Maybe middle age isn’t so bad after all.
Best Day Ever is a Radioactive Cactus Production.
