Something Cheeky

Lam (Full Exposure) impresses in this bighearted and inclusive take on the friends-to-lovers trope. In college, Zoe Tran and Derek Bui were inseparable. They dreamed of taking the theatrical world by storm and increasing AAPI representation as a costume designer and a director, respectively. Together, they conceived of a musical adaptation of a traditional Vietnamese fairy tale—but then their friendship fell apart. Six years later, Zoe is the successful owner of a plus-size lingerie boutique, Something Cheeky, and Derek is a rising director. When he’s offered the chance to debut the musical he initially dreamed of with Zoe, he refuses to do it without her. Despite lingering hurt on both sides, Zoe agrees to join his all-Asian production—but reentering the theater world brings back memories of the racist microaggressions and misogyny that made her walk away in the first place. Meanwhile, as they work together closely, demisexual Zoe’s long-standing feelings for Derek become impossible to deny. But when a white artistic director pressures Derek to make the production “more palatable” to white audiences, he and Zoe clash over how to respond, and their new love may fizzle before it can fully flame. Lam moves the plot along at a rapid clip while balancing fun behind-the-scenes drama; sparky, sex-positive romance; and nuanced social commentary. This is a treat. (Mar.)