She's in Portland

An air of male wish-fulfilment hovers over this comedy drama - the pair do run into more than their fair share of beautiful women en route - but stay with the movie and you'll find a perceptive and engaging portrait of friendship emerge.

If people wonder where are all the good movies about male bonding that don't involve action-packed stunts, war combat or juvenile comedy, then point them in the direction of She's in Portland, a gem of a film that deserves to be discovered.

Beautifully shot and written, this homage to the coastal byway and our changing friendships is a love story like no other.

"She's in Portland" is beautiful to look at and well acted, but it's ultimately a little lightweight on substance.

It's the cinematic equivalent of a polo shirt with a popped collar.

Wes' playful approach to day to day life and the warmth of the central friendship keeps all this from becoming too heavy. There's plenty of beautiful scenery to look at and Carlini makes good use of some of the area's lesser-known landscapes.

Heartfelt and not without its surprises, this is a film that ultimately delivers much more than expected.

A splendidly well-acted and observant film about two buddies on a road trip/love quest that's more about where they are then where they're heading.

Ultimately, She's in Portland may satisfy viewers looking for aesthetically pleasing panoramas and skin-deep storytelling, but the film lacks justification for its existence.

An uneven drama that is well acted and looks inviting, but suffers from characters we don't always wish to spend time with.