A new Spanish teen drama, now streaming, attempts to blend social media fame with a dark romantic past, but its execution often feels more contrived than compelling.
The story centers on Kami, a popular cheerleader with a massive online following. Her life at a local high school is upended when two brothers, Thiago and Taylor, enroll. While Thiago is a classmate and a seemingly kind-hearted admirer, Taylor arrives as a new coach whose behavior quickly blurs professional boundaries. The film hints at a troubled history linking Kami to the brothers, a mystery slowly unraveled through flashbacks.
The narrative draws clear inspiration from past hits in the teen romance genre, weaving a love triangle where the protagonist is torn between a gentle suitor and a brooding, often hostile, alternative. The central conflict hinges on the idea that Taylor’s outwardly aggressive and problematic conduct is a manifestation of deep, passionate feelings—a justification the film embraces but doesn’t thoroughly interrogate.
This dynamic makes the core romantic dilemma feel less than gripping. The choice between obvious kindness and persistent antagonism lacks nuance, and the plot misses opportunities to explore the characters’ psychology with greater depth. Meanwhile, the film’s approach to sexuality feels inconsistent. It introduces several charged scenarios familiar from more adult-oriented genres, yet these moments are frequently underdeveloped, serving more for superficial tension than narrative or character insight.
Ultimately, the film’s potential is hampered by a script that rarely rises above melodramatic conventions. While it aims for a blend of intrigue and sensuality, “Tell Me Softly” often settles for familiar tropes without offering a fresh perspective or substantive emotional payoff.