‘Lovesick’ (2025) Netflix Movie Review - A Heartbreaking Yet Beautiful Story

I don’t know how many more heartbreaks I will have to suffer through movies. Yet again, the makers have given a young love story, but with a dash of big heartbreak. Lovesick follows the lives of two high school students from opposite sides of the spectrum. On the one hand, we have Ye Zijie, a mischievous boy who fakes his terminal illness so as to avoid expulsion from school. He comes up with the biggest lie ever that he is suffering from terminal cancer. However, you will find him eating pretty much everything, which technically someone suffering from stomach cancer shouldn’t eat.

On the other hand, we have his namesake, Ye Zijie, a studious girl who is also their class president. She is kind, sincere, and helpful. Like I mentioned, the complete opposite of the boy Ye Zijie. But, truth be told, she is the one who is suffering from a terminal illness. Although she is on the road to recovery, there is still a ten percent chance of acute leukemia coming back. What sets her apart from the boy is that, unlike him, she hides her illness from the rest of the class while the boy soaks in sympathies and ease of claiming to have stomach cancer. We are also shown the caring side of the girl who is always on the lookout for the boy. Right from making notes merely, to keeping his bag safe with her while he bunks his classes, she, although in her heart knows that he is faking it, still wishes to help him. But what will happen when her illness returns? Will this young love ever get to see daylight? Will she get to tick off items from her bucket list?

This is an unfortunate movie, and after watching a bunch of them in the past month, this made me even sadder. The ending especially moves you a lot. We witness how these namesakes fall in love and how the girl always looked forward to the future when in reality she was least likely to have it. The boy, on the other hand, changes for the better and now values life more than anything.  What I particularly liked was how the writer of the plot played it in reverse. We were made to believe that it is the boy who is suffering from cancer, but in reality, it’s the girl. Yet this girl is strong and resilient. She participates in all activities even though her body can hardly support it.

While the plot no doubt is moving, the pacing is a slight issue. There are moments when the movie feels dragged. But definitely, there are moments that require the plot to be tender, and the makers give us that. Apart from that, if you are very emotional, watch at your own risk. These young actors will for sure make your heart fill with emotions. Their acting is so moving. They look tender and beautiful together and as individuals.

But again, my humble request to filmmakers, please pick out a different plot. These kinds of plots work for sure, but they leave us very distorted towards the end.  So all in all, if you are someone who doesn’t mind getting their heart broken or sobbing on a weekend, this movie is a great watch. Others, watch it at your own risk.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times