Boys About Town #1
August 17th, 2026
MOVIE: BOYS ABOUT TOWN #1
STARRING: JOAQUIN DOMINGUEZ, COLE READY, SOFIA GRACE
DIRECTED BY: MIKE CUENCA
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 80 MINUTES
It feels incomplete to write a review of Part 1 of a four-part film series, but what’s not incomplete is that Boys About Town #1 has its style locked down. Director Mike Cuenca’s black-and-white independent film is a throwback to the French New Wave—a low-budget, grab-your-camera-and-go-with-your-friends kind of film. It’s a story about two twenty-something guys living in a made-up city called Petropolis, following their ups and downs, their love of music, the women they fall in love with, and their long nights out on the town. What it makes for is a very hip new film, overflowing with character and style, reminding us that the dreamers are still out there.
The two main characters are Bobby (Joaquin Dominguez) and Calvin (Cole Ready), a pair of adults who are either afraid to grow up or afraid to settle down. Bobby is the shy one, the nice guy who wants to date the nice girl but never dares to ask her out. Calvin is the outgoing one- loud, convinced he knows everything, and determined to make every night a night to remember. The two of them share a love of music and each other’s company, and throughout the film’s 80-minute runtime, we capture just a slice of who these guys are.
Explaining the plot of a film such as Boys About Town #1 is a tad difficult. Not because it’s complicated, but because it is what I like to call a “hang-out movie.” A lot of things happen, there are many conversations, and to enjoy the film is to be invested in the experience. We witness Bobby in his depressed moments, going on dating apps, matching with a woman named Anika (Karina Jhaj), and putting his awkwardness on full display. Calvin is arrogant but loves to talk about British Mod culture, similar to a character you might meet in Dazed and Confused. He’s nostalgic for the past but unable to care for others in the present. He has the swagger of Vince Vaughn in Swingers and is constantly pressuring Bobby to do things he might not be ready for. The joy comes from seeing what these two might do next.
The direction from Cuenca is quite an accomplishment. It’s visually all over the place, with fast cuts, text scrawling across the screen, flashbacks, and flash-forwards, moving the narrative around at will. The bad part is that Boys About Town #1 can feel erratic and unable to maintain a true focus on these two characters. The reality is that Cuenca would have benefited from the philosophy that less is more. The black-and-white cinematography is great, and his screenplay feels authentic and lived-in. Similar to the work of Jim Jarmusch- who is referenced a few times in the film- what makes Cuenca’s film soar is its intimacy. This truly feels like a film made by artists determined to find their way into movies at all costs.
Being Part 1, the ending leaves a little to be desired, but Boys About Town #1 is genuine cinema. As far as coming-of-age movies go, this is a film that captures the uncertainty, the fake confidence needed to get a person through the day, and the freedom that comes with being young and in your twenties. I certainly will be interested to see Parts 2 through 4. Boys About Town #1 is a great start.
3 STARS
BOYS ABOUT TOWN #1 IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO VIEW ON YOUTUBE.
Written by: Leo Brady
