Summary
Friendzone is your typical, feel-good, predictable, anti-climactic romance drama about a “friends to lovers” situation that is coming from the country of love — France.
This review of the Netflix film Friendzone (2021) does not contain spoilers.
Have you ever been in a friendzone situation? If you have–or are not aware if you’re in this type of situation– then Friendzone is about to give you a wake-up call. Friendzone is a 2021 French Netflix original movie written by Stanislas Carré de Malberg and directed by Charles Van Tieghem. The entire movie is shot in France, the city of love. Before you’re imagining a wild, passionate, intense love… Friendzone, on the other side, is slightly more content and composed than I expected.
It tells a typical romantic love story between Thibault (Mickael Lumiere, voiced by Jordan Tortorello), a righteous man who wants to get out of a platonic relationship. While attending a Bachelor party, he meets Rose (Nada Belka), a designer for baby clothes that happens to break free from a troublesome ex-boyfriend. As the two cross path at the beach in the most unexpected situation, sparks fly between them leading into a sweet friendship until feeling starts to intervene.
The movie emphasizes more about understanding yourself before going after what you want. All his life, Thibault is a good guy who leads a saint’s life. He chooses to express himself behind the crowd. He’s a social worker. A nurse to be exact. He lives on the same roof with his woman squads. His world is heavily influenced by feminine energy but at the same time, he has no idea how to conquer the world of a woman.
After realizing that he enters a “friend zone” situation, Thibault goes into a stage of transformation with the help of his girlfriends who keep him on the ground. From the start, Manon Azem is a scene stealer! She plays an independent banker who unapologetically embraces her sexuality of loving girls. Also, Fadly Camara giving more diversity and charm plays a goofy African woman who is also Thibault’s co-worker. Last but not least, the sweet girl next door to balance the energy, Constance Arnould. To win Rose’s heart, Thibault undergoes various lessons, from going hiking every day to shape his body, learning African dance to gain his sensuality and freedom, and communication 101 where the squad set him up with women as his mission to impress them.
Although the movie claims to focus on the relationship between Thibault and Rose, we don’t get to see them that often, especially Rose. Most of the time, her characters are becoming like the side characters that we hear more from another point of view. The story can be more utilized. It’s kind of a waste since the side characters have a stronger presence. There could have been more room for exploration of the character’s direction, backstory, and development.
Friendzone storylines are not something new and special in the “Friends To Lovers” universe. It’s predictable and cliche. It’s not bland, yet it’s not dramatic either. To be honest, rather than the relationship between Thibault and Rose, I am more invested in Thibault’s development and the chemistry between him and his girlfriends who play a big role in his journey of growth. Their diverse friendship and dynamic are keeping the movie together for 1 hour 28 minutes.
Overall, Friendzone is a light, typical romance story about turning your friendship into a love story in a more experimental way of finding yourself. If you’re looking for some movie to pass time over the weekend with your squad, then this could be one of those movies.
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