JANORM wrote on 02/25/2010:

This film is very remarkable in its ability to portray a series of events in the life of late teens/early adults and the sexual situations that they are exposed to. Some people may find this film more of a fantasy than fact. That is a problem, for this situation can happen anytime, anywhere. I have seen it evolve over 40+ yrs ago and have heard about it some 20+ yrs ago. The original short film "Dare," was a real shocker and opened many events that had been repressed. This situation can and is a reoccurring phenomena for the young people of this planet. The portrayals in this film can be very disconcerting as they mimic real life. This should be considered a classical film of its genera and be part of your collection. THE EMOTIONS OF SEXUALITY CAN SOMETIMES LEAD US TO TOTALLY DIFFERENT PATHS! NJMJr!

wilmbear wrote on 02/20/2010:

Although dare the short film came across as a sweet romantic coming of age tale. The movie turns the gay lead character into a sexual preditor and came player and adds a female character who is no better. Although well acted filmed and written I wish they had changed name as this is neither romantic nor a coming of age tale unless you want to be a sexual preditor

Robby wrote on 02/19/2010:

As coming of age films go, this is a good attempt! I think it lost a lot being converted to a feature length film instead of the short we all loved.

The film starts out slow with Alexa. Many of you may have seen the short film of the same title. The actors in the short 16 minute version of this now one hour and 32 minute 'stretched out' version are not nearly as HOT as the leads in the short. With the film moving rather slowly until the memorable pool scene that plays verbatim from the short,

I found the rest of the movie just a lot of filler. The highlight of this film is indeed the appearances of Sandra Bernhard as Johnny's therapist and Alan Cumming as the school play acting coach! In short... watch the short... it's all you need! Hard to follow, and a snapped off ending! Three stars for hot actors, cameos of celebs, and that ever so hot pool scene.

Amos Lassen wrote on 11/24/2009:

“Dare”

Opening the Closet

Amos Lassen

“Dare” dares to be one of the most popular films of 2009 with a cast headed by Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford and Ashley Springer as well as Sandra Bernhard and Alan Cumming (love his cologne). It is the story of high school seniors who are facing decisions and they are about to become adults.
Alexa (Emmy Rossum) begins a journey of discovery when she is told by a conceited an arrogant actor that she has not yet lived and she finds herself with bad boy, Johnny (Zach Gilford). Her best friend, Ben (Springer) also is interested in Johnny and, of course, this complicates matters as well as pushes the boundaries of friendship.
The director, Adam Salky, has given us a film in three parts each focusing on one of the friends. Alexa is the subject of the first third and we watch her transformation as she changes her life and goes after Johnny.
Ben is the subject of the second third and he is a closeted gay boy who is angry and inspired by Alexa’s changes and he decides to do what she does including going after Johnny. We learn that Johnny is actually the most lost of the three—everything thinks he is so cool but in reality, he is not satisfied with his life and is searching for something more. When he is pursued by Ben and Alexa, he accepts their affections because this is the first time that anyone is interested in him as a person and not as the rich kid. He has no love in his life and he is therefore willing to accept it.
The performances are excellent all around and even though the changes in the characters are drastic, they are believable. We see teenagers who actually have some depth to their characters and we watch as they break away from conventions of life. This is actually coming-of-age stories and the movie is brilliant in the way the stories are told. The script is both sexy and sweet and it gives us a new look at an old situation and breathes life into the coming-out and coming-of-age stories.
The movie has problems, of course and basically they all seem to come in Alexa’s third but as the movie moves on, we tend to forget them as we become wrapped up in the lives of the characters. The ending is inconclusive and therefore it challenges the viewer. Some of you may find parts of the film shocking as the film dares to go where few others dare.

Green Giant wrote on 11/17/2009:

i have to admit i went to see DARE to see Zach Gilford do things
you'd never see him do on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. and boy does
he ever. the three way relationship he forms with Emmy Rossum and
Ashley Springer is quite believable. and just in case you were won-
dering yes Zach and Ashley get into a really heavy make out session.
all coming of age films should have two guys kissing with this much
zest and zeal. also the scene where Ben(Springer) gives Johnny
(Gilford) a poolside blow job is sexy yet tastefully done.

while i give the film 4 out of 5 stars i have to admit i'm a tad
confused as to what exactly happens in the last five minutes.