Just Friends – Movie Review & Summary

Seok Yi and Min Soo are a loving couple in a committed relationship. Currently, Min Soo serves in the Korean military. Seok Yi visits his boyfriend with the homemade confections he prepared all night. He boards the bus and meets Chae Eun, a girl who is also bringing sweets to her boyfriend. The two chat excitedly, but Seok Yi is careful about avoiding pronouns when addressing his boyfriend.

After arriving at the military facility, Seok Yi must fill out a contact form that states his relationship with Min Soo. Cheekily, Seok Yi writes that he is Min Soo's boyfriend. However, he crosses out the label due to discretion. Even though Seok Yi and Min Soo are dating, they must hide their romance while in public. The two men are delighted to see each other during the visitation. However, they are surprised when Min Soo's mom unexpectedly appears.

Just Friends is a gay movie ahead of its time. Released in 2009, this cute coming-out story is bursting with joy and enthusiasm. It succeeds in so many ways, managing to be funny, clever, bold, emotional, and effortlessly charming. The film conveys an adorable and passionate romance, but it also highlights the poignant struggles faced by gay men. Over a decade later, some modern Korean BL dramas don't contain half of the spirit and savvy that Just Friends possesses.

Packaged as a lighthearted romance, it's easy to underestimate Just Friends as frivolous. Admittedly, the movie has campy moments with cheery musical numbers at the beginning and the end. The film doesn't take itself too seriously, using upbeat songs and tongue-in-cheek humour to energize the narrative. The quirky comedy defuses a sad scenario where the leads cannot date in public. Unlike many stories about closeted gay guys, Just Friends doesn't want to evoke pity from the viewers. Instead, it inspires laughter, mischief, and optimism. 

Despite the occasional goofiness, Just Friends delivers astute social commentary. The movie depicts the casual discrimination experienced by gay men, who must remain secretive and self-conscious in a conservative society. It introduces a straight couple to provide contrast and emphasize unfair discrepancies. There's little overt homophobia in the film. However, it doesn't need to state the obvious because we're so used to living with these heterosexist norms. Beneath a silly façade, Just Friends conveys mature & meaningful messages about LGBT experiences.

Just Friends has a super cute romance. The leads are two lovestruck young men who can barely contain their giddiness about seeing each other. Their early exchanges seem flirty and playful, bound to make you smile. Later, the passion intensifies between them, leading to several provocative interactions filled with sexual tension. The first bedroom scene is genuinely scandalous, putting me on edge as they navigate their covert affections. The second encounter is just as explosive, and the characters don't hold back from their animalistic impulses.

At thirty minutes long, Just Friends doesn't have enough time to explore its narrative themes to the end. As a result, the conclusion feels slightly condensed. While the plot achieves a juicy climax, I would've appreciated seeing more development between the aftermath and the ending. Nonetheless, I cherish the defiance and exuberance expressed in the final segment. True to the movie's values, Just Friends finishes with a lively celebration of love, pride, and identity. It doesn't wrap up every loose end neatly, but I was satisfied with the closure.

Just Friends astonishes me because it was made over a decade ago. 2009 wasn't a thriving era for the BL genre. Gay representation was minimal in media, especially across the Korean cinema landscape. Yet, the movie persisted in telling a happy, sensitive, and thoughtful love story between two men. Unsurprisingly, this harmless film met censorship woes from the usual culprits, limiting its visibility. Years later, I hope attitudes have evolved. Perhaps more people can watch Just Friends with an open mind, recognizing its creativity, comedy, and courage.