Men Up review – a TV masterpiece about the very first men to take Viagra
I haven’t used this pun yet this year and even though it’s taken me right up to the last few minutes of possible deployment, I am glad I kept my powder dry – because Men Up is definitely this year’s Christmas cracker. The 90-minute tale of the first trial (in Morriston Hospital, Swansea, in 1994) of the drug that would become Viagra is not just short and sweet; it’s an altogether lovely experience. Though it never loses its twinkle, it plays the matter straight and – while the characters may joke about their situations – never for laughs. Tonally, it’s a masterpiece by writer Matthew Barry and director Ashley Way that never undercuts or overeggs a moment, maintaining a delicate balance throughout the narrative.
The story coheres around a handful of men who, after trying the various treatments on offer in the early 90s for their erectile dysfunction (penis injections, inflatable rods, a literal pump in the scrotum, pellets up the urethra), leap at the chance to try a potential cure in pill form. Soon, Meurig (played by Iwan Rheon), whose failure to thrive is a consequence of his diabetes, though his wife (portrayed by Alexandra Roach) fears it is a reaction to her double mastectomy following breast cancer, and his fellow sufferers find themselves hooked up to “strain gauges”, popping pills, watching porn, and waiting for magic to happen. For most, eventually, it does. For others, the disappointment threatens to overwhelm everything they hold dear.
What unfolds is a gentle, compassionate, yet witty examination of the importance placed – by men, by society, by women (though I’d like to talk further about that one) – on the presence or absence of erections and the capacity or incapacity for penetrative sex. This leads to an equally kindly but acute interrogation of the narrow definitions of masculinity we work within, exploring both the inflexibility and absurdity of these societal norms, as well as the needless misery caused by falling outside the lines of traditional expectations.
More impressively still, Barry’s script makes poignantly clear the difference between sex and intimacy. The restoration of erections solves only one problem and often, it turns out, not the true one. Widowed Colin’s (Steffan Rhodri) pills allow him to move beyond phone sex with his new lady friend, but it is the love he shared with his late wife, despite years without him being able to “perform” (as if men were actors – or seals), that carries him through. This unwavering love empowers him to support a despairing man for whom the new drug does not work, illustrating the depth of connection that can exist beyond physical capabilities.
The rarely depicted intimacy of unembarrassed male friendship stands out as one of the most moving elements of Men Up. But beyond that, there is also the rare sight of marriages in difficulties, yet determined to overcome them. It portrays ordinary men wrestling with deeply personal problems without resorting to drink, violence, or transforming into monstrous versions of themselves. The show also highlights the profound wounds that unthinking cruelties can inflict; for instance, when Tommy (Paul Rhys), whose long-term partner is a man, must lie to qualify for the trial due to the protocol dictating that only heterosexuals can participate. It underscores how narrow those tramlines are, and how they must lead only to vaginas. What a world.
Amidst all this, we also see a fantastic opening turn by Katy Wix as Meurig’s obtuse therapist. Men Up is not just a film, but rather a lovingly crafted piece, filled with delicately poised performances that allow the narrative to pivot seamlessly from moments of humor to sorrow and back again without any noticeable wobble. It truly is a remarkable way to conclude the year, offering viewers both entertainment and poignant commentary on the complexities of masculinity.