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Ireland · 2020
1h 32m
Director David Freyne
Starring Fionn O'Shea, Lola Petticrew, Sharon Horgan, Barry Ward
Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
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Ireland, 1990s. Eddie and Amber pretend to be in a relationship to stop the hallway whispers about their sexuality. Eddie is keen to follow his Dad into the military, while Amber dreams of moving to London. However, their ideal arrangement falls apart. As Eddie descends into denial, Amber realizes that a perilous future awaits her best friend unless she intervenes.
Not all of the ancillary characters and their stories are fully developed in the film’s quick 92 minutes, but Dating Amber convincingly channels the angst and awkwardness that can be a part of teenagers’ struggles with their identity.
It might be easy to write off Dating Amber as yet another “coming out” film, but what it ultimately is is just plain ol’ good storytelling.
Slant Magazine by Diego Semerene
Dating Amber rather seamlessly strips itself of its hyperbolic affectations to reveal a heartbreaking story of emancipation through friendship.
The Irish Times by Donald Clarke
There’s not much formal romance here, but there’s a great deal of love.
The Hollywood Reporter by Leslie Felperin
Freyne draws out fizzy, gutsy performances from his two leads, who have a genuine, charming chemistry. The authenticity of their performances is perhaps slightly out of tune with the broad caricatures on display elsewhere, such as the mean classmates, but it's ultimately forgivable given how winning the film is overall.
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
It’s all a bit earnest and derivative and sometimes a bit lachrymose, despite some perfectly decent performances.
The Observer (UK) by Simran Hans
As Amber becomes more comfortable with her queerness, the taciturn Eddie retreats inwards. Their parallel journeys dispense with a one-size-fits-all coming-out narrative and are handled with a lightness of touch by Irish writer and director David Freyne.
Los Angeles Times by Tracy Brown
Not all of the ancillary characters and their stories are fully developed in the film’s quick 92 minutes, but Dating Amber convincingly channels the angst and awkwardness that can be a part of teenagers’ struggles with their identity.
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