FRIEND ZONE | Review

So, of course, I went to watch another movie. It's Saturday and trust me, I got tickets to watch 2 different movies on the same day. So, do expect another review coming right up after Friend Zone.

So, I have never mentioned this to anyone but I have always had faith in Thailand films because they are so good. They always make amazing films. Great horror films, great thriller, great comedy. They are just so good. I would say they can come as the top of the filmmakers among the South East Asian Countries. So, when I heard Friend Zone was gonna come out in Malaysia and my sister went to watch it ahead of me, I was excited cause Thailand films have never disappoint me and I saw the trailer, it was hilarious.

So, let me briefly share you what Friend Zone is about. Friend Zone is a film about well, obviously a man who was allegedly put in the friend zone. He is madly in love with his best friend and it has been the case since the beginning. This movie explores their friendship from when they were in high school until, the current year in 2019. The main characters are Gink and Palm.

The whole story line was simple and I dare say relatable. Which to me would be the reason why so many people would feel deeply towards the film. This isn't a common rom-com that the man chases after the girl and wows her with flowers, love letter and wines. This is a story about companionship and how it was something much bigger than a romance. More than it is a love story, to me it truly was a story about a friendship that Gink and Palm had.

So, the film is a comedy and I daresay the jokes were amazing. It was on point, regardless of the culture differences, the language barrier, the jokes reached out to everyone at every single jokes. The comical acts were well written. You know how there are times in comedy films, when the body gags were just too much. Exaggerated. And you just feel like "ugh, stop now. I get it you're funny. "

In this film's case, it was as if these characters knew they're not funny. They're clumsy, yes and it's the kind of clumsiness that happens all the time, acted moderately and this film showcased the lightest and easiest form of comedy that didn't force people on the joke. To me it was brilliant. None of the jokes or comical scenes felt forced.

The storyline focused on Palm's point of view and the film focused on how much he cared for her more than about how much he has his feelings for her. The thing that made me realise how good this movie was, for the fact that you learn Palm is not just being nice and stood there by Gink just because he has feelings for her, any men that just acts nice for a woman that they like wouldn't have lasted so long or fought long enough for her well being but Palm, man, he CARES for Gink. So much. He would do whatever it takes to make his best friend happy. Even at the cost of his own happiness. He doesn't even take advantage of his friendship with Gink in order to pursuit his feelings.

A part of me applaud him cause I feel like, most of the time in real life situation, some men would think that just because they've been nice to a woman, treated her for a dinner, bought her clothes and etc, you name it, the girl is somehow obligated to love him, to give him something in return. Love, sex or I don't know, companion maybe. They EXPECTS it. Palm's character was written to be, none of the above. He just did it because he's a giver. He's not a taker and as long as Gink is happy, that's all that mattered to him.

The only concern I had was that since the script was written on Palm's point of view, the film failed to tell much on Gink's point of view. On how she sees him as a person. Or were they able to go deeper into the lengths Gink would do for Palm. I feel like if there was a balance of it somewhere, it would have made the film better. It would have showed just how much they BOTH care for one another and not just Palm. The focus of the film felt a bit one sided and in some ways makes Gink's character too much of a taker. I just feel like Gink's character could have done more.

The actors, were amazing. Damn. I don't have much details on their acting backgrounds but their comical acts were just so natural and naturally funny. They didn't have to try so hard. Besides being funny, I loved how both of the character were transparent with one another. Neither had secretly kept ill feelings for one another, they joked harshly to one another, naturally. Like real friends. To me, it felt refreshing. This two characters weren't even trying to attract one another, they were just falling by the law of gravity for one another.

Overall, watching Friend Zone was a whole lot of fun. It was just enjoyable, entertaining, heart warming and overall, it just felt so relatable. Like, at least once, we would have felt like. "Yeah, I've been in those situation before". Regardless of how much of it was relatable.

It's amazing and I strongly recommend it to everyone. It is such an entertaining movie, it would just make you leave the cinema feeling better.

The official release of the film in Malaysia is on 11th of April 2019. Be sure to check your nearest cinemas to watch it and get your tickets!

FRIEND ZONE - 5/5