There's nothing better than coming across a film that defies your expectations at every turn. "Secretary" is a film like that. I had heard some things about the movie before seeing it, that it dealt with a sadomasochistic relationship, that newcomer Maggie Gyllenhaal was terrific in her role as the submissive title character, and that the movie had garnered quite a bit of critical acclaim. So I expected a dark, arty and explicit film which explored the seedier side of human nature, the kind where sometimes the viewer wants to turn away from what's presented on screen. What I didn't expect was a movie that is fun, often very humorous, and surprisingly sexy at times, with likable leads you care about. Despite it's lurid premise, "Secretary" is, at its core, a very charming, old-fashioned romance...sort of a kinky "Pretty Woman."

Gyllenhaal plays Lee Galloway, a young woman who's just been released from a mental institution, where she dealt with a compulsion to inflict pain on herself when overwhelmed by anxiety. She moves back into her parents' house - her mother (Leslie Ann Warren) is doting and overprotective, while her semi-abusive father (Stephen McHattie) is a hard-drinking louse. Her parents' tumultuous relationship soon has her contemplating a return to her old self-mutilating behavior. Instead, she applies for a secretarial position at the office of E. Edward Grey (James Spader), a local lawyer. Her typing skills get her the job; even though Grey solemnly informs her that the work is demanding and tedious, this is exactly what Lee is looking for. Grey is a strict, rigid and almost compulsive disciplinarian, openly critical of Lee's few clerical errors, as well as her appearance and phone skills. Unlike most people in the same situation, Lee seems to thrive on this verbal abuse, which isn't lost on Grey; he's soon having her perform more demeaning tasks around the office, the two becoming more infatuated with each other in the process. Meanwhile, Lee attempts a relationship with a guy named Peter (Jeremy Davies), a loving, caring young man with the utmost respect for her, but cannot truly provide her with the emotional satisfaction she needs, namely pain and discipline. The crucial turning point in the film occurs when Grey, after finding a single typing error in a letter she's transcribed, reprimands Lee with repeated spankings. This scene shows both characters releasing much of the emotional baggage they've been carrying. Lee finally realizes her fixation with pain isn't psychological clap-trap about self-loathing - she truly loves it; Grey finds an emotional outlet for his pent-up, obsessive nature. Soon, the two are engaging in more extreme forms of sado-masochism. This eventually begins to bother Grey, who becomes unnerved with this revelation about himself, and fires Lee. Ironically, Lee is finally comfortable with her addiction to pain and humiliation, and now must persuade Grey to give in to what they both define as true love. What's interesting about the film is that the more these two characters find release in abuse, the more charming they become to the viewer, and the more we want them to find true happiness - by the end of the movie we are rooting for them be together, regardless of their eccentricities. And critics are right about Gyllenhaal - she's incredible, easily the best part of the film. Though not glamorous by Hollywood standards, she exudes enormous sex appeal through her vulnerability and demeanor.

Despite the movie's low-budget, the DVD transfer of the movie is really good. There is some edge enhancement, but the flesh tones are accurate and colors are sharp. The sound is presented only in Dolby Digital, which is probably fine with this release, since most of the film consists of dialogue.

The extras on this disc are a bit lacking. There's a commentary by writer Erin Wilson and director Steven Shainberg, but is definitely worth listening to - it's entertaining and informative. The only other features are a photo gallery, trailer, and a very short featurette which serves as little more than a promo.

"Secretary" offers a wildly twisted and unique spin on a tried-and-true formula, but that shouldn't dissuade the timid from trying it out. Despite it's S&M trappings, the film is surprisingly non-exploitative, extremely well-acted and a lot of fun. It's also very well written and directed, easily the best story of found love I've seen in quite awhile.