Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun
Cast: Chanthavit Dhanasevi, Nuengthida Sophon, Chantawit Thanasewee
RunTime: 2 hrs 10 mins
Released By: Golden Village
Rating: PG
Official Website: www.guanmuenho.com

Opening Day: 2 December 2010

Synopsis:

A love story about two strangers who know nothing about each other and fall in love.

He is a football fanatic, videogame nerd, social butterfly, comic lover, tired of love stories and a cynic of love while she is Korean soap opera fan, beef lover, devout radio station listener, avid book reader, and homebody.

Together, they are perfect strangers who will travel, eat, share a room, and talk about anything and everything including each others top secrets.

Movie Review:

This reviewer had always dreamed of meeting his true love while touring the streets of Paris. How romantic would that be, to experience love at first sight while strolling in the City of Love. Language barriers aside, this would be a dream come true for any die hard romantic. But what if this idealistic reviewer were to meet a fellow Singaporean who spouts the ever familiar Singlish phrase “What are you doing here ah?” – would things as romantic as he hoped things to be?

There is a similar situation in this Thai movie. Just when you thought that the Thais have nothing new to offer except horror flicks, Muay Thai action movies and kitschy comedies, here comes a refreshing romantic comedy set in Korea. Yes, the very accessible movie takes place in the country that has its boybands and girlbands taking over the international pop industry by storm.

The plot is simple: A guy and a girl visit the Land of Kimchi separately, and eventually bond together after coincidental encounters, sharing of rooms and confessions of heartbreaks. Do they end up going back to Thailand together to share a “happily ever after” together?

Director Banjong Pisanthanakun (Shutter, Alone) ditches his familiar horror genre to helm this entertaining holiday romance which will be a hit for all you couples out there – there is a reason why the 127 minute movie made big bucks in its home country and became the highest grossing movie of 2010.

One hundred and twenty seven minutes? Yes, you read that correctly – running at over two hours long, this movie goes on quite a bit before you get to find out whether there will be happy ending for the two protagonists. Call this reviewer a unromantic Scrooge who has no one to share the lovey dovey moments with if you will, but there are many unnecessary plot developments which make this movie overlong.

Grudges aside, this Korea funded popcorn movie is still a joy to sit through, largely thanks to its appealing cast. Headlining the production are Chantawich Tanasewi and Nuengtida Sopon, who are extremely pleasant as leads. Tanasewi exudes a boyish charm which makes him instantly likeable, while Sopon has a sophisticated personality which makes her girlishly charismatic. The two of them are the kinds of friends you want to travel with, and that makes this journey extra enjoyable.

As romantic comedies go, you shouldn’t expect much in terms of characterisation or plot developments. The filmmakers have played the game by the book and managed to chart a predictable itinerary around Korea. While it serves as a great date movie, the production also serves as a visual guide around some of Korea’s prettiest sights (that’s probably why the Koreans have decided to fund this project as well).

What’s particularly interesting though, is how the filmmakers have managed to portray a picture of how the Korean pop culture has taken over the world by storm – watch how a certain Bae Yong Joon is spoofed in a restaurant scene. You’ll chuckle at the rather genius move taken by the scriptwriter, and hope that one day, it will be you experiencing an overseas romance as picture perfect as this.

Movie Rating:



(It’s probably never to happen to anyone in real life, but you would be duly entertained by this fluffy romantic comedy)

Review by John Li