The Reel Review
Luke and Emily are analysts at a cutthroat New York hedge fund who are secretly engaged to be married. They must navigate tricky office politics when one of them gets promoted over the other, forever changing the power dynamics of their personal relationship. Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich star in this romantic drama turned psychological thriller.
Writer/director Chloe Domont, in her feature film debut, succinctly outlines the perils of mixing work and personal lives. At first there is sympathy for Luke, who feels emasculated by Emily’s promotion over him, with each personal interaction suddenly taking on a different hidden meaning for each of them. Then we see his sense of male entitlement and toxic masculinity emerge. He schemes to undermine Emily’s confidence, criticizing her work clothing and business decisions and even insinuating that she may have slept with her boss to get the promotion. Emily, meanwhile, gains new perspective on how her boss really sees Luke, just as she is desperate to prevent him from exposing their relationship and imploding both of their careers. She must do this while enduring some revolting sexism by her boss and new peers.
Dynevor (Bridgerton) gives an electrifying, career-defining performance in what is a riveting, head spinning and stomach-churning turn of events. Ehrenreich (Oppenheimer, Cocaine Bear) also deftly channels male insecurity, paranoia and betrayal. The only drawback is the frenetic third act that, while a nail biter, also strains credulity. Even so, Fair Play, with its controversial scenes of sex and sexual assault, is a fascinating and haunting portrait of male fragility in the face of shifting power dynamics between men and women.
REEL FACTS
• Netflix purchased the rights to Fair Play for $20 million.
• Los Angeles-based writer/director Chloe Domont (Billions, Ballers) was raised in a family with a stay-at-home dad. She says she got the idea for Fair Play after discovering how many men were threatened by a successful strong woman.
• Although set in New York City, Fair Play was filmed in Serbia.
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