MY SASSY GIRL

Without a doubt, My Sassy Girl (Korean) is sweeping the box office and has found a place in the hearts and minds of many young people.
Riding on the waves of Korean plays and TV programs which have become very popular here, My Sassy Girl has fast become the "must see" film of 2002. In Hong Kong, it smashed box office records by garnering HK 10 mil in sales!

Stars Cha Tae-hyu / Jeon Ji-hyun / Yang Geum Yong
Director Kwak Kae-yong

Following other recent Korean movies, gender stereotypes are turned upside down . My Sassy Girl is no different and in it, the female protagonist keeps her boyfriend on a tight leash and occasionally punches him when she "feels like it."

The boyfriend Kyun-woo (Cha Tae-hyun) is a normal and unassuming college student. One night while in the subway, he meets a drunk young woman who calls him "honey" and then promptly passes out. Reluctantly, he picks her up and takes her home. He soon finds himself entangled in an turbulent relationship with this fiery but charming girl to whom he eventually surrenders his heart.

This quirky movie is told in a game-style fashion with a half time and extra-time. It starts off with a first-half, then breaks for a second-half and then it goes into the extra time where Kyun-woo appears now and then as detached commentator. Director Kwak Kae-yong combines the typical style of Hong-Kong's slapstick comedy with Korea's surrealistic drama and the result is a concoction that is far-fetched, but oddly enough, engaging.

My Sassy Girl is essentially a teen movie but with a good difference. Because the movie doesn't take itself too seriously, we are spared the type of love story with its usual corny moments. More importantly, its makers aren't from Tinsel-town. So that means no MTV teen stars with inflated egos but a story-telling technique that is as refreshing as our two Korean leads.

My Sassy Girl marks K-pop singer Cha Tae-Hyun's movie debut and it is not surprising if an avalanche of movie offers follow after this performance. Cha's portrayal of Kyun-woo is sheepish, earnest and natural - just the right qualities that would endear him to female audiences here.

Equally endearing but just a little disappointing is The Sassy Girl herself. Her character goes without a name in the movie, but actress Jeon Ji-hyun is far from nameless in her country. Jeon trades in her ethereal quality from her last movie Il Mare for a more spirited persona here which is a nice welcome. However, she still is unable to nail down the role of difficult damsel completely. Some of her antics come out a little stilted and watching her could be tedious task if she wasn't such an alluring lass.

Still, even with such a progressive plot, My Sassy Girl suffers the kiss-of-death that is Asian melodrama. Be prepared for a weepy wrap-up of picturesque scenes and soft piano music.

But if you are ready to sit through a spunky, dramatic love-story, you'll have fun with this one.