Long-term romantic relationships elude many these days. Many of the reasons for this, financial and societal, are beyond our control. Other reasons we can, however, control, a main one being a lack of satisfaction with your present options for long-term love, and the wait for ‘the one’, the perfect person. Can we have it all? Multi-award-winning film director Allan Deberton (Pacarrete) examines this and other issues in true Brazilian style with The Best Friend, a flamboyant, colourful, sexy, romantic musical set in the beautiful beach resort of Canoa Quebrada, Brazil.

Handsome twenty-something architect Lucas (Vinicius Teixeira) is quite shy and reserved. He’s in a relationship with Martin (Leo Bahia), who’s larger than life and prone to over-the-top behaviour. One such occasion results in Martin standing outside Lucas’s apartment block with a loud hailer and a crowd of people as he declares his undying love for Lucas. Lucas is embarrassed and decides the couple need a break in their relationship.

Lucas goes away to the beach for a few days. There he randomly bumps into Felipe (Gabriel Fuentes), his best friend from school. The two were inseparable at one point, years earlier, until shortly after the two men, both straight at the time, had shared a kiss. Lucas had been keen to develop their relationship but Felipe then mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen again. Until now. Felipe has matured into the most handsome, buff sexy man, and Lucas can’t take his eyes off him. Felipe, however, knows his value, and whilst he’s also attracted to Lucas, he also appears to be quite happy to share his body with the rest of the beauties on the beach, both male and female.

The two men start to hang out, at the beach by day and in a local queer drag club at night. The super out-going, confident flirt Felipe is a sharp contrast to the quiet reserved Lucas, but the two share a strong chemistry. How are things going to pan out for the two men? And also, what about Martin, with whom Lucas is still technically in a relationship?

The Best Friend treads a fine line between fun and serious messaging. Deberton achieves this, always easier with a bunch of drag queen mamas in the background to dispel wise words of wisdom. These girls are led by none other than performing legend Gretchen who plays herself. Both Teixeria and Fuentes also shine in their roles, Fuentes proving he is a great actor as well as an Instagram and Only Fans star. He looks amazing, both in and out of his clothes, and perfect as a sexy yet complex lothario. Musicals aren’t for everyone but the music numbers are enough to satisfy those who want them, and not overwhelming enough to deter those who don’t. The songs include many Brazilian pop classics from the 80s and 90s. This is a very Brazilian film, sexy, vivid, fun, serious and with its heart on its sleeve.   7/10