Review of Secretary (2002) by Stephen L — 12 Nov 2008

This is by the far one of the most original romantic comedy films I have ever seen. However don't be fooled. The humor is dark and not in a people die kind of way but in the implication of actions characters only subltly mention.

But what makes this film universal is the love story itself in which Gyllenhaal and Spader sell ever second to you. No matter you sexual preferance all relationships have universal conflicts and themes and Secretary exploits those themes and brings them to the surface.

And for once the film earns its ending. You want these to end up together but at the same time you don't want them to change because you understand how they feel. In the end this film deconstructs relationships, love, and the feeling of being only and holding you hand out to some one to make that feeling go away.