According to Otto (Australia)

Yet another coming of age film where a 16 year old teenager decides that it's time to come out. Otto’s family try to be supportive at all the wrong moments of his journey to find himself, with hilarious timing, making some of those moments awkward for the teen. The best part about the film is that there are no sad moments, just a vibrant, exciting, endearing tale with funny moments from the entire cast. Yes, some may feel that the film is full of cliches, but I had a good time with a smile on my face. No one is saying that this is great cinema, but hey, films like these still help teenagers at grasping and understanding their own sexuality especially for those who are struggling with it.

16 year old Otto has massive imagination and he always dreams of how a particular situation could play out. On his birthday he decides to come out to his family. His sister is very supportive and unexpectedly so is his father , but his mother needs some time. He goes to school and wonders if he should tell his best friend Max as well. These two awkward kids get bullied at school all the time, and even though Otto has a crush on Max, he cannot come to tell him in fear of losing friendship. When the bullying gets too much, one day Otto stands up to the guy and the matter goes to the principal. This is when Otto comes out to the school and Max is shocked to hear this. In a very charged scene, Otto's dad goes to principal office and demands suspension of the bully. (Even though comically done, I actually thought that scene was very well done). Max says he is happy for Otto but that he is not gay and that they can still be friends. When everyone including Otto's family assumes Max is Otto's boyfriend, they end up embarrassing Max who runs away. Eventually in the end he confesses to Otto that he is gay too and has always secretly like Otto.

Storywise the film may seem simple, but the treatment and execution is what it sets apart. Almost the entire tone is light and comical, with situations when Otto dreams on how they could play out, bring out the laughters. Otto breaks the fourth wall quite a few times to directly talk to the audience and most of the scenes make so much sense. It's this dilemma of what one may think and how reality actually plays out. Like how he imagines he will standup to the bully v/s what really happens. Or when he imagines how his parents may talk about his sexuality to their colleagues and what really happens. As I mentioned above, this film is supposed to be a feel good film to remind folks that with a supportive family environment, coming out doesn't have to be a bog deal at all. The way Otto's sister is supportive and the pop-inspired granny, they were all pretty cool. All the actors did a fantastic job, and I believe that the film was made after a stage play where likely most actors played the same role and the film is made by the same team, which is wonderful, in my opinion. So, don't expect anything part shattering here. A simple story, using some innovative ways of telling a story, this is a feel good film. (6/10)