A gay slacker tries to overcome his crippling insecurities to find love. | Hotter Up Close

Chris is a barista on the verge of his 30th birthday. Freshly dumped and feeling uncomfortable with where he is in life, his anxieties and hangups about everything from dating to how he fits into the larger culture around him have kept his life on the static side.

Keen to push him out of his shell, his friend and fellow barista Dana pushes Chris to put himself out there with his crush, Aiden. To his surprise, Aiden casually invites him to a pool party, which Dana accepts on his behalf. But at the party, Chris sees Aiden with another presumed date and must decide if he will step up to the challenge or fade into the background.

Directed by Leland Montgomery and written by Christopher Matias Aguila, who also stars as Chris, this nimble, amiable short romantic comedy finds a near-perfect balance between fun and sincerity, as it chronicles the travails and insecurities of a young man and his attempts to go beyond them in his search for love and connection. In many ways, it's standard rom-com material, complete with snappy, witty banter and heightened moments of humor, and its rhythms feel cozily familiar. But the fresh, smart writing updates the formula by applying it to a group that isn't often the protagonist of the genre, as well as bringing vulnerability and honesty to its main character's struggles with self-love.

Like many rom-coms, the film takes place in a bustling, pleasant milieu, and the bright, clean cinematography and clear colors bring this corner of California to life in a vivid way. At the party, he regularly attractive, polished people, all evincing an aura of wellness and prosperity that's in contrast to his quirkier appearance and demeanor. But he's also smart, kind and funny, all traits apparent in his friendships. But when faced with interpersonal challenges, those personal gifts retreat under a shell of shyness and awkwardness.

As an actor, Aguilas winningly captures this anxious, eager insecurity, and though he's endearing and self-deprecating about his perceived shortcomings, we also see how they hold him back. But when faced with the possibility of losing out on love by not taking a risk and speaking up, Chris must find it in himself to be brave and honest about what he wants in life, what he believes is possible -- and how deserving and worthy he is of it all.

Entertaining, visually polished and engaging at every turn, "Hotter Up Close" is also highly relatable to anyone who has ever felt excluded from love, dating and relationships because they aren't as attractive or successful as they feel they should be, or haven't quite achieved their "best self" yet. Chris's journey is one that many people share: the one to embrace their authentic self and see it as beautiful and lovable, with enough self-regard to weather the ups and downs of dating, no matter what happens. The happy ending isn't just getting the girl or boy, but the acceptance and celebration of self, no matter where you're at in life.