My Personal Trainer – Movie Review & Summary

Jin Ho is a YouTuber who struggles to gain popularity with his silly online videos. He joins the gym with his friends, hoping that a buffer body will help him gain more attention. They have booked a session with a personal trainer. However, the coach is late on their first day. Jin Ho attempts to try out the gym equipment himself, but his incorrect posture is potentially dangerous. Seok Hoon, a personal trainer, arrives in time to help Jin Ho with his exercises.

Jin Ho begins to train under Seok Hoon during one-on-one fitness sessions. As a personal trainer, Seok Hoon is surprisingly tactile. He has no problems asking Jin Ho to place his hands over his pecs or abs. Jin Ho quickly grows smitten with his personal trainer. His friends also agree that he got the hottest guy in the gym.

Afterwards, Jin Ho and Seok Hoon exchanged contact information. They send friendly text messages that bring a smile to Ji Ho's face each time. Seok Hoon invites his trainee for a meal as they become closer. Jin Ho is excited about the possibility of taking their relationship to the next level. He and his friends have speculated about the personal trainer's sexuality. However, they can't figure out whether Seok Hoon is actually interested in Jin Ho or not.

I don't think anyone has this misconception, but My Personal Trainer is not a BL masterpiece. The frivolous short movie is nowhere near a standard of quality and sophistication. Instead, it's a campy comedy with goofy jokes, dumb plots, and silly shenanigans. If you're looking for something elevated, you won't find literary merit in this film. Nonetheless, My Personal Trainer may appeal to those who want a few quick laughs from a casual, lighthearted story.

The comedy in My Personal Trainer is low-brow, relying on exaggerated reactions and blatant innuendos. Personally, most of the juvenile jokes don't tickle my funny bone. The single scene that makes me laugh is when the characters speculate about Seok Hoon's sexuality. As they scroll through his Instagram feed, every picture is gay, gayer, and gayest. 🤭 Even if the other moments don't connect with me, I still appreciate the cheekiness. The delightful mischief makes this film amusing to watch.

However, the story is pitifully shallow. There isn't much substance to the plot other than a few reactions and gags. My Personal Trainer doesn't develop its paper-thin characters, who are merely vapid cliches and senseless stereotypes. The BL romance is also limited. There is a kiss, and the characters share a few inappropriately intimate encounters. Yet, these quick moments don't amount to anything significant, like the equivalent of watching superfluous fluff. The hollow relationship scenes are not intended to make you gush about the couple.

Many aspects of this movie are unremarkable. The production values are okay, but there's a lack of artistry in the visual presentation. Most scenes occur in a run-of-the-mill gym, which looks as mundane as it sounds. As for the acting, it's average at best. Jin Ho's performer (Lee Na Gil) and the supporting cast seem lively, but their charisma isn't compelling enough to boost the mediocre material. Meanwhile, Seok Hoon's actor (Jang Seok Hoon) is just there to be objectified. Overall, the uninspiring script hardly showcases anyone's acting capabilities.

I can criticize more, but I don't want to be too harsh in my review. Ultimately, I recognize the movie is inoffensive and harmless. The plot might be lightweight, but it's brimming with exuberance and enthusiasm. Also, this cheerful comedy fills a missing niche and diversifies the BL genre beyond just schmaltzy love stories. While My Personal Trainer might not be my cup of tea, I believe some viewers will react to the humour more fondly. The quirky antics should make you giggle once or twice, which is a fair trade-off for twenty minutes of your time.