If your idea of a good time involves emotional support water bottles, fierce fits, and group chat-worthy drama, Friendzone is about to be your new favorite film. Streaming now on ALLBLK, this refreshingly bold rom com from writer-director Courtney Arlett is exactly what the plus size baddies have been manifesting.
And we don’t say that lightly.
This is not your typical, “he suddenly realizes she’s beautiful” snoozefest. Oh no. Friendzone is juicy, stylish, and messy in all the right ways. It stars the stunning Nzinga Imani as Queenie, Brely Evans as the big sister we all wish we had, and features a full cast of fine, funny, emotionally available men (imagine that!).
We sat down with the trio, Courtney, Nzinga, and Brely, and what was supposed to be an interview turned into a sister-circle, storytelling sesh with a splash of juicy behind-the-scenes tea. And trust: this film is about more than crossing romantic lines. It’s about claiming space, leading with softness, and showing that plus size women can star in rom coms that feel just as dreamy, just as stylish, and just as worthy.
“Sometimes, when you get comfortable in friendships, you don’t think the other person is interested… until they start acting funny when you talk to someone else,” Courtney teased, when asked if the film was ripped from her real life. “Friendzone came from real convos in the group chat, and honestly, we’re all a little dysfunctional in love. So, somebody else needed to see it.”
Nzinga chimed in, laughing: “I’ve never had a platonic guy friend where we’re laid up, sleeping on each other. Uh-uh. You’re either gonna make me your woman or lay over there.”
BIG GIRL ENERGY ON FULL DISPLAY
What makes Friendzone extra special is that no one apologizes for being curvy, sexy, or soft. There are no weight-loss arcs. No “but I’m not pretty enough” scenes. Just complex, confident women being fully themselves.
“This isn’t a plus size story,” Brely said, with a hair flip you could feel through the screen. “It’s an American story that just so happens to feature women who look like most of America.“
And let’s talk fashion.
“Listen, that brown date-night dress I wore? Iconic,” Nzinga said. “That came from my own boutique, Shop Nmani. A lot of the wardrobe did. And yes, it’ll probably be on sale soon. Once I emotionally detach.“
Courtney added, “I wanted to represent the curvy girls how I see them in real life. Not in sad beige or oversized cardigans. These women? They leave the house in slits, prints, and highlighter colors. Period.”
A SAFE SET. A BOLD STORY. A SISTERHOOD.
Behind the scenes, the love and respect were palpable. Brely called Courtney her mentor and described the set as a safe, loving space where everyone was able to create without tension.
Courtney recalled being nervous to direct someone she admired: “Somebody that I admire is actually telling me that I’m doing an amazing job. That moment grounded me. I knew we were making something special.“
Nzinga’s favorite moment? Seeing a young, curvy actress play her in a flashback: “She was starstruck to be playing me. That was full circle. We’re impacting the next generation in real time.“
NOT A ROM COM WITH A COMMA
This film is a follow-up to Courtney Arlett’s breakout hit Pretty for a Big Gurl and marks her second project as both screenwriter and director. She’s not new to this, she’s true to this. And in Friendzone, she goes deeper.
“I didn’t want this to be a story with a comma,” Courtney explained. “Not ‘she’s pretty, but.’ Not ‘she’s confident, but needs to lose weight.’ These women are not defined by their size. They just are.“
Nzinga reflected on how rare that is: “So many stories with plus size leads sneak in a surprise body-shame plot. We didn’t do that. And you can feel it. The chemistry, the beauty– it’s all real.“
Brely agreed: “We didn’t make a big deal about it being a ‘curvy’ cast. It just was. The story didn’t need to be about weight, because our characters already had enough going on. Love is complicated enough.“
So, what’s the takeaway?
Nzinga: “Don’t wait for your main character moment. Take it.”
Brely: “You are enough. Period.”
Courtney: “You are the star. Act like it.”
BONUS VIBES: Don’t leave without checking out the Friendzone-inspired soundtrack.
- Brely Evans dropped a sultry new single titled “Friendzone”, now streaming on YouTube, that perfectly captures the emotional push-pull of the film.
- And yes, those vocals you heard during the movie? That’s Nzinga Imani herself. Catch her beautiful voice layered throughout the film’s most romantic moments, especially in her song, “Back to Life” on Apple Music.
Watch Friendzone now on ALLBLK
(7-day free trial, so no excuses).
Follow them all:
- @FriendZonetheMovie
- @NzingaImani (and @ShopNmani)
- @BrelyEvans (check her Friendzone-inspired single!)
- @CourtneyArlett
