Alden Ehrenreich is perhaps one of the most underrated actors working today. First discovered by Steven Spielberg at a bar mitzvah, Ehrenreich has been consistently churning out intriguing fare, and discovering his niche as a character actor for years. From Beautiful Creatures to Stoker to Solo: A Star Wars Story and everything in between, any Ehrenreich project begs to be watched at least once. His newest, Fair Play, has long been on my radar since debuting at 2023’s Sundance Film Festival. Here, Ehrenreich shares the screen with up-and-coming actress Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton, Younger), playing a power couple at the mercy of intense gender dynamics. Workplace romance gets overly complicated in this meandering, overwritten festival flick.
Mr. Ivy League himself appears to have it all—Luke (Ehrenreich) flashes around his new girlfriend, Emily (Dynevor), at his friend Leo’s wedding. The couple very obviously are in that honeymoon phase where passion and lust reign supreme. In an unquestionably icky mishap, the two get intimate in the bathroom, ending up covered in period blood. During this semi-amusing bit, a wedding ring falls from Luke’s pocket. Just like that, he proposes and the two are promptly engaged.
Filmed in New York City, the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple constantly swirls around the main action. Both Luke and Emily work as analysts at One Crest Capital; the fast-paced hedge fund seems to cycle through employees a little too quickly, as they leave either in tears or causing a major scene. Nevertheless, one man’s misfortune is another’s happy promotion. Abuzz with potential names to replace a newly vacated seat, Luke appears primed to take the top spot. He and Emily agree to keep their workplace romance a total secret for at least a little bit longer. Soon, Emily too will be promoted. Luke vows to look out for her, and get her on his level soon enough.
Fair Play muddies the waters by throwing this certain promotion to Emily instead of Luke. The implication seems to be that Luke is emasculated by Emily’s success, and completely thrown for a loop. As Emily adjusts to her new position, “dating an analyst” suddenly doesn’t seem so appealing. Emily’s newfound sense of confidence is only fueled by their tyrannical boss, Campbell (Eddie Marsan, Choose or Die, The Gentlemen), who confides that he only hired Luke in the first place as a favor. There was and never will be any intention of promoting Luke. Both Emily and Luke are frustrating characters to follow. In a surprise to no one, they are pushed away from one another as the tension between them steadily builds to a climactic sexually-charged crescendo.
The screenplay explores all manner of relationship issues, yet refuses to acknowledge that Emily and Luke are entirely toxic in their own ways. Why should we care or root for either side, when communication and compromise are simply not in their vocabulary? Performances are excellent across the board, yet that empty script leaves much to be desired. By the time we get to the ending, shaking the feeling that barely anything happened is difficult. Only the film’s homestretch gives Ehrenreich and Dynevor material worth their time. A relationship drama with bite, Fair Play tragically fails to tap into its erotic thriller potential.
Fair Play screened at 2023’s Woodstock Film Festival, and streams to Netflix subscribers on Friday, October 6th.
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