Summary
- Real HR professionals react to scenes from Netflix's Fair Play, criticizing the professional dynamic between Luke and Emily as highly problematic.
- One scene from the film features Emily coercing Luke to perform oral sex on her by offering to help him get a promotion, and one HR rep confirms that would be fired for this.
- Critics have praised the film for its tense story and strong performances, and it bas been a viewership hit for Netflix.
Scenes from Fair Play are analyzed by real HR professionals, and they have some thoughts on Netflix's new hit movie. Directed by Chloe Domont, the Fair Play cast features Alden Ehrenreich as Luke and Phoebe Dynevor as Emily, a young couple navigating a surprise promotion at the cutthroat hedge fund they both work at. While Luke and Emily start the film as a happy couple, things quickly go south and devolve into a game of manipulation, secrets, and meltdowns as jealously and emotions boil over.
Now, Netflix has shared a new video of real HR representatives reacting to scenes from Fair Play. Check out the video below:
The HR professionals clearly take issue with the relationship dynamics at play in the film, with Emily's proposal to help Luke get promoted if he performs oral sex on her raising a big red flag. Of the proposal, one rep refers to it as "sexual coercion," with another adding that "she should get fired for that". Ultimately, one HR professional sums up the general sentiment, saying, "It should be used solely as a training video for what not to do in the workplace."
How Has Fair Play Been Received?
Fair Play premiered earlier this year at Sundance, generating buzz from critics in attendance. After Netflix scooped up the film, it finally landed on the service at the end of last month, with general audiences finally able to experience it for themselves. More reviews for the movie poured in as it went to streaming, with critics generally enjoying Domont's tense erotic thriller/ psychological drama.
Particular praise for the film has been aimed at the exceptional performances from the Fair Play cast, especially Ehrenreich and Dynevor. A film like this doesn't work without strong two leads, and both actors capture not only the lustful, romantic energy between Luke and Emily at the beginning, but also the venomous turn that occurs as the story progresses. The Fair Play ending has also been a major talking point, with the film concluding with a pointed final scene.
As for the audience reception, things have been a little more mixed, which isn't entirely unexpected given the film's themes and subject matter. Fair Play currently holds a somewhat disappointing 51% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it has also, however, been present in the Netflix top 10 since its release, suggesting that it has been a viewership hit for the streamer.
Source: Netflix/ Instagram