1
You have to know a few things before starting this
==Breakdown==
Background plot - 50%
Romance - 25%
Misc comedy - 25%
Background plot - From absolutely brilliant to insensitive, lazy, and terrible
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good sometimes, other times lazy and harmful
Production value - Excellent
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU WATCH: Before you watch this, please take their depictions of mental illness unseriously. Do not watch this thinking they did at all a good job with the illnesses and disorders they portray (they did not). Most are horribly harmful stereotypes of very serious, layered, complex disorders (bipolar disorder, as an example). The depictions were lazy and harmful and bad and inauthentic. I somewhat blame the actors they picked for these roles who obviously did no homework before playing their "crazy" characters. But I also blame the director. The script, when taken on its own, is not bad.
The only exception to this was the ML's struggle with having multiple personalities (aka dissociative identity disorder). This was the only disorder somewhat portrayed with any sensitivity, and only because of the obvious work put in by the actor. Many scenes which should be considered absolutely heartbreaking are played for convenient and lazy comedy, and I understand why. However, the ML actor always seemed to save these scenes with his earnest, honest, and raw approach to portraying this struggling character.
Also, the FL screams. A lot. It's irritating.
MAIN REVIEW: This is so hard to rate. On the one hand, it's well-acted, the script is good, the music is excellent, and the chemistry is great between all the main players. On the other hand, it perpetuated harmful stereotypes about very serious illnesses, contributing to misinformation and perpetuating ignorance / harm.
I guess, if you can disassociate yourself (see what I did there?) from taking this at all seriously, then go for it. But please know, this is not an authentic or realistic depiction mental illness. It's really bad. In fact, it's demoralizing. And that makes me sad.
Background plot - 50%
Romance - 25%
Misc comedy - 25%
Background plot - From absolutely brilliant to insensitive, lazy, and terrible
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good sometimes, other times lazy and harmful
Production value - Excellent
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU WATCH: Before you watch this, please take their depictions of mental illness unseriously. Do not watch this thinking they did at all a good job with the illnesses and disorders they portray (they did not). Most are horribly harmful stereotypes of very serious, layered, complex disorders (bipolar disorder, as an example). The depictions were lazy and harmful and bad and inauthentic. I somewhat blame the actors they picked for these roles who obviously did no homework before playing their "crazy" characters. But I also blame the director. The script, when taken on its own, is not bad.
The only exception to this was the ML's struggle with having multiple personalities (aka dissociative identity disorder). This was the only disorder somewhat portrayed with any sensitivity, and only because of the obvious work put in by the actor. Many scenes which should be considered absolutely heartbreaking are played for convenient and lazy comedy, and I understand why. However, the ML actor always seemed to save these scenes with his earnest, honest, and raw approach to portraying this struggling character.
Also, the FL screams. A lot. It's irritating.
MAIN REVIEW: This is so hard to rate. On the one hand, it's well-acted, the script is good, the music is excellent, and the chemistry is great between all the main players. On the other hand, it perpetuated harmful stereotypes about very serious illnesses, contributing to misinformation and perpetuating ignorance / harm.
I guess, if you can disassociate yourself (see what I did there?) from taking this at all seriously, then go for it. But please know, this is not an authentic or realistic depiction mental illness. It's really bad. In fact, it's demoralizing. And that makes me sad.
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