What I Rented - Love Me If You Dare

Love Me If You Dare is a film so at odds with itself, that it left me breathless, angry, frustrated, and mesmerized, often simultaneously. It’s a romantic comedy, as told by somebody who probably believes that Seven is a poetic tale of lost love. It bounces along with a dash of whimsy, and an innocent veneer, trying to cover the fact that it’s really about two psychotic lovers, trapped in a vicious mind game.

It all starts innocently enough, as two alienated children, a boy, Julien, whose mother is dying of cancer and a Polish girl, Sophie, who is racially taunted by her classmates, devise a game of dares in order to empower them in a world that seems Hellbent on keeping them down. At first they are childish games, swearing in front of the teacher, toppling over a wedding cake, etc…, but as they grow older, the game begins to take on an obsessive, and disturbing nature.

Soon, their relationship becomes defined entirely by the dares they play on each other, and as they begin to realize that they are in love with one another, they recognize that they have no way to communicate it. This frustration begins to manifest itself through the game, and the dares begin to take on a passive aggressive nature that leads to shocking cruelty.

It’s at this point where the movie began to lose me. All the characters have to do is say three simple words to one another, drop the game, and presto chango…happiness, but Julien devises a far more horrible plan. After daring each other that they won’t speak for a year, Julien tracks down Sophie (after four years) and tells her that he has made a mistake. He takes her out to dinner, brings out two rings, and asks if she will do him the favour. She agrees, thinking that he has finally proposed, but nope, he wants her to hold on to the rings for his marriage to another woman. The reason for his ruse; because Sophie dared him that he couldn’t find a way to hurt her. Ouch.

At this point the games become abusive, although both seem to find excitement in the manipulation. But miraculously, it all leads to a finale that is actually horribly touching. I disliked these characters immensely, yet somehow the way in which they find each other is fitting, and emotionally moving. If only the pathway that lead them there was clearer..

I think for me the problem with the movie is mostly in its tone. It’s dishonest. It bounces along with such joy, asking the audience to forgive these characters’ devilish actions, that it fails to recognize how sick and twisted they are. There’s never a moment where the true nature of their…let’s face it…crimes is exposed.

Love Me If You Dare wants to be a jaunty fairy tale, but ends up being a disturbing look at two disillusioned lovers who seem more intent on destroying one another than being together.

Star Rating - ** out of 4