I don't know what problem people have with writing smart and happy guys into a buddy comedy, but no one seems to be able to do it.

In this movie, two guys act dumb and obedient towards each other. Every other scene shows no self preservation, human traits, or will to survive...

Olivia Dudley plays someone with common sense, and her character spends the entire film standing up for herself.

It's clear that Carson Mells is trying to break down the "act tough" or "act pretty" alternate personalities we all carry around, and being a human-being does sell, however we put on those alternate personalities as defense in the real world. So what is shown in this movie is two guys with a total disconnect from the real world, instead of being a part of it like everyone else.

It would be better to see two guys expressing nervousness, frustration, tourettes, electric excitement, excessive nerdiness, etc... Real social, human traits, that people can connect to.

It's not a good start. The first scene raises a skeptical eyebrow as to the tenor of the picture, and the next few minutes don't change that reaction. It's not until we're about one-quarter in that this earns its first laugh - its only laugh - and we see a smidgen of earnestness underlying the proceedings. Therein lies the problem, though, and it's consistent throughout the length: in a title that takes on airs of comedy, drama, and romance, the sincerity is sorely missing from a vast preponderance of the length. Considering that the story very specifically revolves around mental illness, this lack of sincerity means too often that the attempted comedy either just falls flat, or worse, comes across as inappropriate; material that should be treated with all due sobriety is too often approached with a mind for comedy; and the comedic and romantic elements feel direly forced. There are very serious ideas and themes here that are all too relevant to real life, including and not limited to the lack of funding for mental health services, and the lack of services and resources for those struggling with mental illness and disability, especially as they endeavor to lead a normal life; the failure to recognize laws, social norms and etiquette, or basic boundaries and conceptions of what is or is not appropriate behavior, and what may come off as creepy or dangerous; toxic masculinity, toxic relationships, and possessiveness in male relationships, adjoined with the misogyny represented in efforts to control other men's romantic relationships (with women); the difficulties of untreated mental illness, possibly leading to dangerous and destructive criminal behavior and violence; and more. All this would make for a harsh drama that's hard to watch, but nevertheless firmly compelling. Yet it is very readily apparent that 'Some of our stallions' is also intended to be not a pure drama, but a comedy-drama. And so it falls.

The cast give fantastic performances across the board, from the boisterous, manic energy Carson Mell embodies as "kind of sort of mostly" protagonist Beautiful Bill, to the more varied, controlled, and nuanced performances of Al Di and Olivia Taylor Dudley as Andy and Bonnie, respectively. Mell illustrates fine technical capability as director, and his screenplay is stronger yet as a portrait of two men, best friends, who struggle with mental illness and with Andy's foray into a romantic relationship. The root narrative is stark and dreary, with substantial detail, and tremendous care obviously went into the scene writing, dialogue, and characters to make the tale as vivid, fiercely absorbing - and, frankly, just plain frightening - as it could be. Jason Chiu's cinematography is smart and thoughtful, and so long as they are employed mindfully and not bent toward embellishment, the same goes for the editing, and any visual and sound effects. The practical stunts and effects are infrequent, but come off well, and I appreciate the costume design, hair, and makeup. This boasts commendable production values, quite up to the standards of any contemporary fare.

Yet the fact remains that all that was necessary for this film to succeed was for writer, director, and star Mell to excise any measure of obvious intended humor from his vision. 'Some of our stallions' has only one actual issue that troubles it, but the tonal issue here is so significant that it severely dampens the value of the viewing experience. In the very least it comes across that the subject matter is being too lightly, and in some instances the outcome is worse yet. Emphasizing the point, in the last small stretch of the runtime it feels like Mell has at last struck the exact right note of honest storytelling as Beautiful Bill has a true "heart to heart" conversation with another character (after his own fashion). Elsewhere in in these ninety minutes we do get tastes of that authenticity, but they are fleeting, and paired with wry cheek that we're somehow supposed to find funny amidst a saga that is otherwise almost cringe-worthy for much of its duration. I really do appreciate the skill, intelligence, and hard work that everyone involved put into this; I see what is done well here - which is most things - and I wish nothing but the best for all. I also wish, however, that Mell had applied just a tiny bit more careful consideration into his direction, for what he conjured on paper is twisted into a would-be quasi-humorous form that is simply ill-fitting for the saga. I do sort of like this, but any recommendation is hard to make for the fact that it must necessarily be paired with the caveat of "but here's what it does very wrong." I'm glad for those who find it more meaningful, as is, than I do; I think 'Some of our stallions' needed more time to gestate.

3.5/5 or 7/10

The following is machine translation. If there is any inaccurate expression, it is my fault. My English is not very good.

More than 2.5 stars to the niche film production crew, thank a lot of people I have seen in credits, investment should be hard to get, this movie has a lot of progress in space, as an ordinary audience, personal advice, black screen transitions can use a few times, less drama can be a little more consistency, like behind the show after four years is doing very well, The same can be done for other time transitions, such as a few months later.

Many comedy movie clips is very novel, lines of a pile of infarction, the second half of the plot power strong, the final Bill and Andy outside in conversation, the two characters don't like the quarrel, is a true brother, film if Olivia Taylor Dudley as Bonnie have more scenes, behind her to feel a bit became an outsider, It's more about Bill stealing the necklace, and Bill and Andy fighting about robbing a bank. If it lasts longer, don't rush the transition. It would be better to have more interaction with the characters, such as how Bonnie is gradually becoming normal and what's going on with Andy.

For Carson D. Mayer's first feature-length film as a writer and director, AL DI's first film as a leading man, it was very good. Tim Heydeck as a psychiatrist, and Mike Georgie as a gun seller. I like the scene of LOGO and hand in frying pan at the beginning of the film. The director and producer created a lot of interesting scenes for the film, such as street donuts with hearts, donuts with cigarettes, playing with a red crystal gun, and suddenly discovering that Bill is dead fish Eye, Black Arrow, and David Zellner's Sam looking into each other's eyes.

Andy's accent is very interesting, this need to keep the Chinese accent, for already can speak English very difficult, although my English is not good, but I can't do completely Chinese accent, admire AL DI pay too much sacrifice for roles, although these are all actors should to do, to shave the beard cut bald, with a rainy sky singing arm, I wonder how the two men stab each other with a broken glass bottle, it looks like the real thing, but on closer inspection it looks like the side crushing prop was replaced.

Is one of the most interesting film lens processing, Bill that Jupiter, head in space, images from time to time to how he because mania was caught by the police, two people drinking and supermarket shelves filled up with a row of overlapping images of the wine is very good-looking, psychological test to see the shape and color of blurred image, Bill corresponds to see Andy's son and reality in the dream, The scenes are cleverly matched to the plot.

The film to mental patients made some discussions, whether normal theme is love, is only looking for two girls to find a, then to marry with his girlfriend at the same time with friends, this is a very complex topic, involves three between privacy and normal mental state, but the film is given the answer, as long as you understand me, you are a good man, is love, Better to live in peace than lose a true friend.

The best lines in the movie are Bonnie's conversation with Andy's restaurant and Bill's conversation with Andy's hotel. These two actors seem to be talking to each other out of character.

After watching this dialogue in the restaurant, I felt that no matter what country I move to, there are only so many people who share your interests and hobbies and can accept each other's personality. It is difficult to find someone with the same hobbies. I don't have to cater to others, although I would rather stay alone. Bonnie talked about how when she was staying at her sister's house and started washing with water and a machine, people didn't understand, including when she said she saw a coke can flying and how she proved that other people believed in her. You can watch the feature film by yourself, because my sister did not appear in the whole film, the role does feel that there is something missing to supplement, maybe I did not understand.

Outside the hotel walk this dialogue is really heart, four years after her son back coherent plot do well (I speak a garbage, very rare to see like Andy switch seats in the car, not go close to the other side to open the door to go in the car, also not is what action not only an emergency switch seats, directly to the next move.) Think about the future of the children, and think about Sam's sincere desire to communicate with them and let this matter go. Only a true brother would say this, which is why I like the second half of the movie.

Of course, the front is also ok, but divided into many small fragments, I wish the director and producer to make more wonderful movies in the future, one by one, the first self-directed and self-directed feature-length film can be shot like this is very good, I guess the plot may be due to the lack of funds, the original script is actually complete.

All in all, the film deserves to be seen by more people.