Fake Buddies (2024)

Min Hwan (Hwang Min Hwan) is not afraid to tell his girlfriend Joo Ha, with whom he has been in a romantic relationship for about six months, that in that time he has fallen in love with Jin Hiuk, his best friend.
Joo Ha (Lee Joo Ha) is also not afraid to let Min Hwan know that she has also fallen in love with Soeun, her best friend.
Your problem lies in how to let them know.
Is the problem because they love people of the same gender? Will they be able to overcome doubts and insecurities and express their true feelings? Will they decide to flee to face the conflict and repress emotions in order to please the other? Will they choose to hide the truth and generate temporary tranquility that in the long run will gradually cause happiness to be lost, and therefore the relationship to deteriorate? Isn't avoiding conflict the cause of that feeling of guilt, that you owe something, and therefore you don't have the right to demand or claim from the other?
From my words, anyone might think that we are facing a drama that would make us cry, but no.
From the romantic comedy genre with an LGBTIQ+ theme, the hilarious miniseries 'Fake Buddies' (가짜 친구 / Gajja Chingu) promises to make the viewer laugh in this mess that, in addition to fake friends, explores communication problems.

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This was originally released as seven shorts YouTube, which were later posted as one video. During this time, viewers did not know after each episode, if that one had been the last -- if and when the story would continue.

Until this project, the YouTube channel "옆집남자 GuyNextDoor" had only made short comedy skits -- most of which are really good! They used their history and experience with these shorts to their advantage for their project "Fake Buddies" by filming and releasing the seven parts as comedic shorts, without any indication whether each one would be the last. The first four or so were even complete little stories in themselves, at first I wasn't sure if they should be seen as part of the same story at all. The wait and the guessing game (Will the story continue? Will we get a backstory? Which couple will we see?) enhanced the experience for me.

Even as a finished product, this short story (the complete version is 44:35 min) is charming -- the acting is well done, the comedic timing on point. The plot is simple -- the way it is told make us root for all four of the young people. The budget was obviously non-existent -- for this story about people "next door" more wasn't needed.

GuyNextDoor show us that you can tell a good story, even without budget, if you use your strengths to your advantage. I'll be looking forward to their upcoming projects.

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