I Do

A smart and delicate story about conflicting obligations in life and love, I Do tells the story of a gay British national named Jack (David W. Ross), who has been living in the U.S. as a registered alien since his teens. Following the death of his brother—shortly after the latter's American wife, Ali (Jamie Lynn-Sigler), becomes pregnant—Jack takes on the role of dutiful support to his sister-in-law, and becomes a loving father figure to Ali's daughter, Tara (Jessica Tyler Brown). That cozy if complicated family arrangement is threatened when Jack's request for a visa extension is turned down and he is ordered to leave the country. In hopes of getting a green card, Jack marries his lesbian best friend, Mya (Alicia Witt), but that plan goes awry when he falls for Mano (Maurice Compte), a U.S. citizen with strong ties to Spain and intentions to move soon. Jack's dilemma—carry on with his fake marriage scenario in order to stay near Ali and Tara, or follow his heart and go with Mano—becomes all the more tortuous when his key relationships seem to sour simultaneously. Director Glenn Gaylord gracefully balances all of the film's distinctive elements, bringing the story to a bittersweet close that reminds us that life is full of hard choices. Recommended. (T. Keogh)