Netflix
Simply in time for Valentine’s Day, Netflix delivers some cutesy Fifty Shades of Gray-style romanticism with Love and Leashes (Feb. 11), the uncommon high-profile South Korean import to not contain science-fiction or the supernatural. Jauntily directed by Park Hyun-jin, it’s the story of a stern skilled, her docile new coworker, and the distinctive relationship they develop. A celebration of bucking stereotypes, accepting who you're, and taking massive dangers, this amusing trifle serves as one more reminder that amour is usually discovered within the craziest of locations, and likewise that you may’t make somebody love you—even through BDSM.
Ji-woo (Seohyun, previously of woman group Women’ Technology) works in a PR division, the place her extreme appears and no-nonsense demeanor are ridiculed by her boss and condemned by her good friend, who means that Ji-woo’s incapacity to discover a man stems from her unwillingness to play the customary googly-eyed flirty sport. Nonetheless, Ji-woo finds a match in Ji-hoo (Lee Jun-young), the newest addition to their publicity operation, and a goofy people-pleaser whose nice and well mannered nature make him an on the spot hit together with his colleagues. What they don’t know, although, is that Ji-hoo is harboring a deep, darkish secret, which Ji-woo stumbles upon when she by chance receives a bundle meant for him on the workplace, and opens it to find a large spiked canine collar. After failing to seize it from Ji-woo, Ji-hoo explains that this buy is de facto only for his big-necked poodle, however his lie falls aside when the field spills over and Ji-woo spies a coupon from “The Largest S&M Store within the Nation.”
The concept that a meek man like Ji-hoo would ship his personal sexual playthings to his place of employment is laughably implausible, albeit in line with Love and Leashes’ disregard for logical plotting. At numerous factors, Park’s script (based mostly on a webtoon known as Ethical Sense) introduces characters with out correctly figuring out them, and has occasions take random, barely defined left turns. Have been the movie not so energetic and intentionally cartoonish, such clunkiness would possibly rankle extra. But by and huge, the proceedings transfer at a brisk and bouncy tempo, detailing the concurrently humorous and sensual bond that types between Ji-hoo and Ji-woo within the aftermath of the aforementioned dog-collar incident, with the previous admitting his “propensity” for being instructed what to do, and the latter turning into intrigued by the opportunity of ordering round a compliant associate.
Earlier than lengthy, Ji-hoo and Ji-woo—whose names are comparable as a result of they’re two sides of the identical coin—are clumsily if earnestly agreeing to enter right into a BDSM association, replete with a contract that stipulates that Ji-woo would be the dominant, and Ji-hoo the submissive, for 3 months. Consequently, the 2 forged apart standard notions of femininity and masculinity to discover a brand new frontier of risqué pleasure. Having been dumped by his final girlfriend Hana (Kim Bo-ra) for confessing his ache and humiliation-centric needs, Ji-hoo is delighted that he’s discovered an ideal “grasp.” Ji-woo, in the meantime, swiftly takes to her position because the queen of the bed room, wielding a driving crop and purple high-heeled footwear to erotic impact. Regardless of how out of the extraordinary this may appear to others, Ji-woo and Ji-hoo instinctively acknowledge that their affair permits them to be their true selves.
Thus begins a corny romance by which Ji-woo embraces her interior boss via kinkiness that takes place in quite a lot of secluded rooms drenched in blue and purple gentle. Park phases these centerpiece sequences as in the event that they have been oh-so-naughty, however in reality, there’s scant sadomasochistic vitality, no nudity, and little or no boundary-pushing perversion to be discovered right here. Love and Leashes is a mainstream-courting training-wheels model of a taboo intercourse romp, its outrageousness conceived in essentially the most milquetoast phrases attainable. That additionally goes for Ji-woo, whose burgeoning wildness is a supply—and expression—of her energy. Removed from making her a weirdo deviant, Park’s saga depicts Ji-woo’s fondness for tying up and smacking round Ji-hoo as proof that she’s a formidable ass-kicker who deserves to be on prime of the meals chain.
Love and Leashes’ softcore therapy of its materials extends to the truth that, per rom-com dictates, Ji-woo—for all her curiosity in these out-there proclivities—actually needs love, and believes she’s discovered it with Ji-hoo. In different phrases, Park’s movie is located in purely standard territory, spiced up with some bawdy gildings. The issue for Ji-woo is that Ji-hoo isn’t actively in search of a sexual or emotional connection via their “video games,” and as an edifying on-line video explains to Ji-woo (and to us), that’s widespread in terms of BDSM relationships, whose dynamics are extra hierarchical than equality-based. Nonetheless, Ji-woo can’t assist however pursue a deeper connection together with her mate, culminating in a visit to the arboretum throughout which she cuffs their wrists collectively so they give the impression of being extra like a hand-holding couple—an outing that transforms right into a rescue mission when Ji-woo’s good friend Hye-mi (Lee El) is preyed upon by a BDSM imposter with rape on his thoughts.
“Simply because I’m perverted doesn’t imply you possibly can deal with me like shit!” declares Hye-mi, and that concept usually guides Love and Leashes, which normalizes Ji-woo and Ji-hoo’s connection as merely an idiosyncratic car for self-expression. Sadly, the movie is good to a fault; there’s little precise hazard to the duo’s carnal explorations, a lot much less something approaching hot-and-bothered steaminess. Furthermore, their story adheres to formulaic guidelines, replete with two late crises that threaten to smash each their careers and their potential future. That issues finish with one character giving an enormous heartfelt speech is par for the course and furthers the impression that Park and firm need to have their cake and eat it too, dabbling in BDSM whereas ensuring that nothing really crosses a line.
Regardless of embodying characters original in solely two dimensions, Seohyun and Jun make for a fascinating pair, and assist preserve the environment gentle and frothy all through. The result's a romantic comedy that’ll enchantment to a large streaming viewers—even when, ultimately, it’s far too conservative and corny to arouse anybody’s libido.