Summary
Private Lesson is fun, charming, and lighthearted.
We review the Netflix film Private Lesson, which does not contain spoilers.
If you’ve ever wondered what the movie Hitch would have looked like if the lead was a beautiful young woman and his clients were teen girls? Well, the Netflix original movie Private Lesson is your answer. And the flick, just like Will Smith’s 2005 romantic comedy, is an enjoyable piece of lighthearted entertainment. Written by Murat Disli and Yasemin Erturan and directed by award-winning Turkish filmmaker Kivanç Baruönü (credited with an extensive list of romantic comedies), the movie stars Bensu Soral, Halit Özgür Sari, and Helin Kandemir.
Private Lesson review and plot summary
Private Lesson starts by introducing our lead, Azra (Soral), who makes a living out of tutoring teen girls. It’s quite unclear what she actually teaches these young high school students, but she does a good job at pretending to tutor them in whatever their parents want them to do while helping the students achieve their true life purposes behind their parent’s backs. Some pursue the arts, while others are looking for help finding a boyfriend. Hande (Kandemir) is in the latter category. After overhearing a classmate declare how Azra’s lessons changed her life, the teen seeks out the “teacher” and forces her hand into accepting her as a pupil. While she’s quite outgoing and talkative, Hande’s been living with her aunt (who happens to be the school chancellor) and doesn’t have the confidence to pursue her crush, Utku (Rami Narin).
Apprehensive at first, Azra eventually agrees to tutor Hande, and before long, the young teen is partying with the cool kids, buying fashionable clothes and downing tequila shots. The film’s second plot point revolves around the growing romance between Azra and her new neighbor, Burak (Sari). Like in any self-respecting romantic comedy, the pair can’t stand each other at first, but soon start growing closer. Burak’s ability to magically save the day every time Azra’s in trouble does help their relationship.
Private Lesson is fun, charming, and lighthearted. The chemistry between the two leads is undeniable, and while the story is a bit confusing, it’s still enjoyable. What exactly Azra’s role is in the life of these young girls is never fully explained. I guess “life coach who occasionally helps you lie to your parents” would be the most appropriate way of describing her occupation. And that’s a concept many helicopter parents might not approve of. She also seems to put great care into her students and more than once goes out of her way to help them out of sticky situations.
Azra is a less sleazy version of Hitch, and while some of her “lessons” may appear outdated to a western audience (particularly her girls vs. boys speech and the dating games she presents as a must-do), the resulting rom-com still makes for a fun viewing experience.
Is Private Lesson worth watching?
If you’re looking for a sweet romantic flick, this movie makes for a perfect distraction from the day-to-day grind. While Private Lesson is far from perfect, it’s an amusing piece worth streaming at least once.
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