Emily and Luke, co-workers and secret lovers, are partying at Luke’s brother’s wedding reception. They’re horny, in love, and focused on making tons of money working at One Crest Capital. They race into the bathroom and have passionate sex complete with an awkward moment. While putting himself back together, a ring falls out of Luke’s pocket. They agree to get engaged right then and there amidst the bathroom stalls and urinals. They cruise back to the party looking disheveled in more ways than one.
The couple’s confident and hopeful relationship unravels following an unexpected promotion at the cutthroat, male-dominated hedge fund firm. Luke (and Emily) think he’s got it in the bag but the boss summons Emily at 2 A.M. to award her the position of portfolio manager. Luke is initially supportive, but his resentment starts to boil over as Emily embraces her role as one of the boys. She goes to a strip club with the other PMs, gets picked up in the morning by the company car (as Luke trudges to the train), and increasingly rubs shoulders with the boss. Luke goes off the rails by cutting Emily down, going from one sexual extreme to the other, and drinking heavily.
Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) is Emily and Alden Ehreneich plays Luke (Solo: A Star Wars Story) in writer/director Chloe Domont’s first feature film. Dynevor is superb as Emily shifts between the steely reserve and reckless abandon of a young woman surrounded by testosterone (and a zealous mother). Ehreneich holds his own as Luke becomes increasingly threatened, desperate, and defeated. While Dumont is not breaking new ground, her take on gender power dynamics is provocative and thought-provoking. While Emily is a more sympathetic character, neither one of this sordid couple is a likeable character. Their true colors eventually come out. The mic drop ending might provide some closure, but happiness may continue to elude Emily and Luke.
Fair Play is streaming on Netflix with a running time of 1:53.
D² Rating: ◼◼◼☐☐
Trivia: Eddie Marsan plays the boss Campbell in Fair Play. Marsan is primarily known for his role in what television drama that ran from 2013-2020?
Answer: Ray Donovan