Maybe It's Love – Movie Review & Film Summary

Two men hook up after meeting anonymously. They refer to each other under their cutesy pseudonyms, "Cat" and "Dog". Cat is older than Dog. However, their age difference doesn't get in the way of their steamy romance. Dog even admits that he is attracted to older guys.

After their first sexual encounter, Dog confesses he already has a boyfriend. He apologizes for not revealing his relationship status beforehand. Surprisingly, Cat is understanding and doesn't take any offence. He suggests they can become friends with benefits and still maintain a secret affair. Yet, tension arises in their next meeting. Cat and Dog start arguing. Their disagreement quickly escalates into a heated confrontation.

Maybe It's Love begins scandalously. The protagonist tells his lover he already has a boyfriend, turning their casual fling into a secret affair. His love interest doesn't condemn the cheating and wants to continue hooking up. The deceitful characters and their morally dubious relationship may not sit well with some BL watchers. Many dramas in this genre focus on an idealized version of love. In contrast, Maybe It's Love removes the rose-tinted glasses and portrays a gritty, provocative romance.

Although I'm fond of sweet love stories, watching something spicier provides a refreshing change of pace. Deep down, trashy gay romances are my guilty pleasure. Not every fictional couple needs to be wholesome. Sometimes, I want to see two self-sabotaging scumbags slutting it up! Maybe It's Love meets this brief. From angst to arguments, the story serves plenty of intense relationship drama. In some instances, a squabbling couple can be obnoxious. In this case, the film is short enough that the conflicts don't get on my nerves. There's just the right amount of sleazy entertainment.

Maybe It's Love includes a quick romantic encounter. The couple kisses and becomes intimate, but the shaky camera movements make it hard to view anything worthwhile. The filmmaker's artistic choice backfires, diminishing the sexy rendezvous. Nonetheless, the movie is deliberately arousing. The muscled bodies, skimpy wardrobes, and affectionate caresses in the bathtub convey a lustful atmosphere. Racy visuals, like the actors in tight and tiny briefs, feel suggestive without showing anything explicit. Maybe It's Love knows how to stimulate your visual interest.

Both leads do a decent job with their roles. The film's second half requires them to bicker and show strong emotions. The cast handles the dramatic material respectably. I also like that they're confident enough to be scantily clad, strutting around without a shred. Let's hope more BL stars follow their examples. By the way, I didn't realize until writing this review that Cat's performer (Duncan Ku) appeared in NSFW films. His adult entertainment background is a strength. Unlike some actors, he doesn't seem self-conscious about affectionate encounters on screen.

The movie's biggest drawback is its length. At twelve minutes long, Maybe It's Love doesn't have enough time to develop the plot. I struggle to care about the characters or their relationship over such a short period. The entire film only consists of two scenes, hardly enough to make viewers invested in the narrative. Despite providing essential details through dialogue, there's so much missing context. How did the leads meet? What are their lives like besides hooking up? We don't even know their real names. Maybe It's Love offers barely anything to flesh out the backstory.

Maybe It's Love has a sad ending that leaves both leads tormented about their affair. Unfortunately, the narrative stops at this point just as it is getting warmed up. I wish the movie was lengthier and explored the juicy relationship drama further. Even a few extra minutes would make a difference, giving the plot more depth and development. This movie feels annoyingly incomplete, like someone plucked two scenes out of a larger story. I'm left longing for content from an insufficient narrative. Despite the glimpses of potential, Maybe It's Love is definitely disappointing.