I’m in Love with my Brother’s Best Friend
starring: MARIA BARSEGHIAN & CHRIS QUARTUCCIO
When college freshman Kaitlyn Sinclair catches her high school sweetheart cheating, she moves in with her brother - only to find herself sharing space with his best friend, Cole, her old crush. As sparks fly, Kaitlyn and Cole must navigate their growing connection despite meddling exes, mean girls and her protective brother.
REVIEW
⭐⭐⭐
Right. Grumpy Jen. I was so looking forward to this. You have the stars of 2 of the best YA verticals Virgins Bucketlist and Quarterback Next Door in a vertical with a great premise.
But everyone is so let down by the script.
Maria Barseghian is given nothing to work with. All we know about her character... she likes Cole. Oh and a bit about an internship added hastily at the end. The script doesn't tell us anything else about the character, there is no friend to have fun with, just nothing. It's not fair on a great actress.
And then Chris Quartuccio who I adore and think is totally underrated as an actor. Go back and watch Got You Mr Always Right and QB Next Door. He is sooooo good.
So why oh why oh why has he been playing second male leads, often to Jordan Frank and he always loses the girl. And that's not fair.
And in this he is brilliant, he battles to elevate the material. He does awkward and embarrassed when being interrogated by Ryan very well. He is great as a green flag lead, and does his best with the awkward voice overs.
But just imagine if the script had more nuance...
The cast is good, I like Ben David Carlson as Ryan, Gabrielle Cody has a fun moment as Maddy trying to explain what is in the ethics paper.
But they are all let down by the script.
We needed jokes, banter and fun.
Or we needed something a bit more high stakes tearing the lovers apart.
We need depth to the characters and to know who the 2 leads are and why they love each other so much beyond the physical attraction.
It's making me really cross as it feels like such a wasted opportunity. It's a perfectly fine watch. Watch it for Chris Quartuccio.
But this could have been great. This could have been magnificent. A bit more time developing the script and we could have had magic.
And that is why I am in a bit of a strop. Because I want so much more for all the cast and crew here.
💖 Top swoonworthy moment:
Cole has some good green flag moments as he is hyper aware of not taking advantage, and trying to do the right thing. Which is why it makes no sense to me that he proposes at the end - I am sure he would speak to Kaitlyn’s parents first, and wait for her to graduate.
🦹🏼♂️ Top villain award:
Pretty much a tie between Brent and Maddy. But everyone else at college seems dreadful as well, girls drugging each others drinks, Mikey turning on Kaitlyn, taking photos of humiliation. I do not want to go to that college.
😂 Comedy gold:
When Ryan finds out about Cole and Kaitlyn, and says “My Best Friend. My Little Sister”. Well I don’t know about you but all I could hear was Ross from Friends saying that, and the much better next line!
🎺 Unsung hero:
Nice to have a sensible teacher with Prof Calloway. Who does seem to have taught everyone something. And rare for a vertical isn’t having a steamy affair with a student! (sorry not sorry but it had to be said)
✍🏼 DETAILS
Director Matthew Lai | 2025
Available on ReelShort
