According to Korea Times, Netflix's new drama starring Jisoo (Blackpink) "Boyfriend on Demand" is attracting global attention and at the same time rekindling the familiar debate about acting.
Although some viewers are still skeptical about Jisoo's acting ability, the unique romantic comedy (rom-com) idea and a large cast of "boyfriends" are helping the film climb to the top of Netflix's rankings.
Boyfriend on Demand" tells the story of Mi Rae, a webtoon producer played by Jisoo. She feels exhausted from real life and turns to a virtual dating simulation service where users can "register" to experience romantic relationships.
However, immediately after its release, the film once again puts Jisoo's acting ability under scrutiny.
Since 2021, when starting acting, Jisoo has been frequently criticized for her pronunciation, word choices and facial expressions. With "Boyfriend on Demand", many viewers are curious whether she has improved or not.
Director Kim Jung Sik said that the female singer switching to acting has made a lot of effort for the role. "I think Jisoo has put in a lot of effort and handled the scenes as well as the characters well. In the film, you will see both the character and Jisoo grow up together. Efforts have surpassed talent," he said.
On Jisoo's side, she also hopes that the audience will feel that she has found a suitable role.
Some viewers believe that the modern comedy-romantic genre is beneficial for Jisoo. Unlike previous projects with fantasy or historical elements, this story focuses on emotions and everyday situations.
However, the criticisms have not completely disappeared. In strong emotional scenes such as love or suffering, viewers think that Jisoo's voice is sometimes broken and her pronunciation is not clear.
A crying scene of Jisoo when Mi Rae is worried about her lover spread on social networks and was criticized, even some critics commented that this is "the weakest moment of the movie".
However, compared to the fierce negative reactions that have appeared after previous roles, this time Jisoo's response to the new film is much more gentle.
According to Korea Times, part of the appeal of the film lies in other factors.
Boyfriend on Demand" builds a fictional universe with 901 virtual boyfriends, played by actors and celebrities, including Seo In Guk, Seo Kang Joon, Lee Soo Hyuk, Ong Seong Wu, Lee Jae Wook, Jay Park, Kim Young Dae...
The characters include a university senior, a wealthy heir, a National Intelligence Agency agent, a doctor, a judge, and even a mysterious assassin.
The fictional world is elaborately built, along with the selection of actors and careful image design, which has helped maintain the feeling of immersion in the virtual love story.
