Chingoochigum
Unfortunate Misuse of a Mostly Good Cast (with the obvious exception of Uee)
This drama was problematic due to a really weak script and a mind-blowingly bad peformance by Uee as the female lead.
The reasons I rated it as highly as I did are the performances of Bang Sung Joon, Lim Ji Yeon, and Park Hyun Sik and the fact that the drama contained a storyline about parents that wasn't necessarily about their children (sometimes it seems like parents are onlyincluded in dramas in order to impact the romantic relationships of their children). Having said that, I will admit that I didn’t particularly like the storyline of the parents, I was just relieved by the fact that it wasn't solely focused on their impact on the romantic leads' romance.
I've seen other reviews that criticized the lack of chemistry between the leads, but I somewhat disagree with them. To me, the problem was one-sided; Uee should never have been cast. I was impressed by the amount of chemistry and connection Sung Joon was able to muster with a scene partner who offered nothing. I've been in that situation as an actor, and it is like working with a brick wall. It is also very exhausting. I applaud Sung Joon for making me believe in his character's interest despite Uee's ineptitude as an actress.
In fact, I enjoyed Sung Joon's subtle performance throughout this drama. From what I've seen, he has a talent for knowing how far to take his performance without pushing. I believe he is one of the best drama actors because of this.
Park Hyung Sik chaeboled as Park Hyung Sik does, though I would have appreciated a little more sweetness behind his hijinks in the final scene - he came across a little too much as if he was genuinely regretful. I also felt that Lim Ji Yeon's performance in the final scene lacked growth. Throughout the rest of he drama, however, they had a delightful chemisty.
Visually, there were some lovely moments - the scenes at the beach and at the beach house come to mind. I also think that Sung Joon was particularly attractive in this film (he appeared physically stronger, his skin was clear, and he had a great haircut).
Overall, the only way I would recommend watching this would be if you are a fan of any of the three leads that I mentioned above.
The reasons I rated it as highly as I did are the performances of Bang Sung Joon, Lim Ji Yeon, and Park Hyun Sik and the fact that the drama contained a storyline about parents that wasn't necessarily about their children (sometimes it seems like parents are onlyincluded in dramas in order to impact the romantic relationships of their children). Having said that, I will admit that I didn’t particularly like the storyline of the parents, I was just relieved by the fact that it wasn't solely focused on their impact on the romantic leads' romance.
I've seen other reviews that criticized the lack of chemistry between the leads, but I somewhat disagree with them. To me, the problem was one-sided; Uee should never have been cast. I was impressed by the amount of chemistry and connection Sung Joon was able to muster with a scene partner who offered nothing. I've been in that situation as an actor, and it is like working with a brick wall. It is also very exhausting. I applaud Sung Joon for making me believe in his character's interest despite Uee's ineptitude as an actress.
In fact, I enjoyed Sung Joon's subtle performance throughout this drama. From what I've seen, he has a talent for knowing how far to take his performance without pushing. I believe he is one of the best drama actors because of this.
Park Hyung Sik chaeboled as Park Hyung Sik does, though I would have appreciated a little more sweetness behind his hijinks in the final scene - he came across a little too much as if he was genuinely regretful. I also felt that Lim Ji Yeon's performance in the final scene lacked growth. Throughout the rest of he drama, however, they had a delightful chemisty.
Visually, there were some lovely moments - the scenes at the beach and at the beach house come to mind. I also think that Sung Joon was particularly attractive in this film (he appeared physically stronger, his skin was clear, and he had a great haircut).
Overall, the only way I would recommend watching this would be if you are a fan of any of the three leads that I mentioned above.
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