Love Untangled

"Love Untangled": A Sweet Journey of Frizz and Discovery

"Love Untangled" (released in Brazil as "Love Untangled") is Netflix's latest take on the South Korean teen romantic comedy genre. Set in the nostalgic 1990s, the film introduces us to young Park Se-ri (played adorably by Shin Eun-soo), a high school student who has a love-hate relationship with her curly hair. For her, this "frizz" is the main obstacle to winning over the most popular boy in school.

The plot is quite straightforward, and for that reason, it works. As Se-ri devises a plan to straighten her hair and confess her feelings, she grows closer to Han Yun-seok (Gong Myung), a new transfer student who, with his calm and attentive demeanor, begins to mess with—or, rather, untangle—the protagonist's feelings. The chemistry between the two is one of the film's strongest points. Their relationship is built on small moments, exchanged glances, and simple conversations that feel incredibly genuine.

The film stands out for being a light-hearted coming-of-age story without major drama. It avoids overblown plot twists and focuses on something much more universal and relatable: teenage insecurity and the journey of self-acceptance. Se-ri's struggle with her own hair is a metaphor for the quest to be loved and accepted exactly as she is, without having to fit into a mold.

Namkoong Sun's direction and the script capture the essence of first love with great delicacy. The 1990s setting, with film cameras and cassette tapes, contributes to a nostalgic and cozy tone. While the film's pace can be a bit slow at times, the sweetness of the story and the charisma of the cast hold the attention.

"Tangled Up" may not be an unforgettable masterpiece, but it is an honest and captivating film that warms the heart. If you're looking for a feel-good romantic comedy that will make you smile and maybe even shed a tear, this is a great choice. The film celebrates the beauty of being imperfect and the importance of finding someone who loves all sides of you.

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Satisfies the cravings!

I went into this movie wanting an easy, funny, nostalgic high school romance with low angst and this movie delivered it perfectly. Was I expecting something along the lines of parasite or some renowned movie? Nope! The trailer promised an easy breezy nostalgia with some funny moments and this movie delivered it all.

I liked the characters... i liked their friendship. I always dig whenever a movie is set in the past... 15 years or back. Before the internet boom. It always gives a melancholic feeling of the bygone era. This movie is about a high school teenager navigating her heart through a crush on a fellow high school mate and ends up following in love with someone else totally.

I was surprised by how mature she was to know what her heart wants so quickly rather than dating her crush and then realizing she was always in love with someone else.

If you are looking for a deep, twisted and dramatic ending... this is not for you! This is just a simple teenage romcom with funny moments here and there of two teenagers falling in love and being there for each other.

I really thought this would have a sad ending with how quickly these two ended up together, but the drama really did not go that route and gave us a lovey dovey ending... which I was so happy with.

The movie has its faults, sure... the secondary characters are just there as a prop... we don't get any other story about them, than they being friends of the leads or family... So ya... that is negative aspect, but this movie is all about the main characters!

All in all, I wanted a simple rom-com with a predictable ending and that's exactly what I got! So yaa I got no complaints....

Rating: 9/10

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Sweet, but

This was an extremely sweet movie and it really hit the right notes to get the feeling of nostalgia and youth friendship, without making anything too over-dramatic.

I do have one big gripe with this movie though; the tone stays pretty consistent and light-hearted throughout but it does what a lot of Asian movies seem to do in the third act: the noble idiocy break-up, followed by the time jump reunion. While this movie subverts the trope a bit (thank god for that), I'm not the biggest fan of it being there in the first place and felt like there had to be a better way to incorporate character arcs without doing it.

Still, a cute film.

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Unfunny and Uninteresting

A plot that has been used on a lot of K-Dramas recently, I watched Love Untangled with minimum expectations, and still got disappointed.

The Plot - A Girl with curly hair wants to get it untangled so that she can propose her crush. A concept that is not unknown in dramas. What I expected to be honest that maybe the movie will preach about loving yourself irrespective of appearance, but it didn't.

Talking about the chemistry, I felt both the ML were miscast and the screentime for Cha Woo Min was insanely low. There was no emotional gravity, no bond built-up and lack of spark that made me lose interest in the characters.

The second half felt like watching something with a 2x speed, no development, rushed story, weak screenplay and an unsatisfactory ending. Honestly, the movie did try something, but felt nothing more than a pale imitation of other rom-com themes that I have seen in the past.

Overall, Love Untangled is a messy and a weakly written rom-com that neither romanticizes it's character fairly nor leaves a strong message of loving yourself with the flaws. A total disappointment.

My Rating : 2/5

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Fairy Tale Mashup

This is not complicated. It's very much the "Shin Eun Soo Show" with a stock plot, stock supporting characters, stock high school setting, etc. The plot is almost verbatim "Ugly Duckling". Shin Eun Soo's Se Ri is not an exceptional student, comes from a middle class family and although she has a few close friends, is not particularly popular. Her defining feature is her persistently curly hair which she dislikes and blames for her romantic misfortunes.

Cue the cutest boy in her class recognizing her existence.

Cue her crush on said cutest boy.

Cue entrance of new, nice boy that does anything Se Ri needs.

Cue serpentine series of events of dealing with hair curls and high school crushes.

The supporting cast is actually pretty strong. Cha Woo Min, Yoon Sang Hyeon, Kang Mi Na and Choi Gyu Ri all are as good as the script allows them to be (which is unfortunately pretty limited). Gong Myung probably isn't the best choice as a credible high school boy but when a production needs a laconic, slightly depressed, quiet type, that's Gong Myung.

But as noted above, this is really a beginning-to-end spotlight vehicle for Shin Eun Soo and she mostly delivers. It's a departure from the high school students she's played previously. Her character is not a rebel, is not angry at the world, is not griefstricken or living in an abusive home. Se Ri is a fun, typical teen but Shin Eun Soo brings her to life as an exuberant, extroverted, energetic bowling ball of harmless mayhem. She's far from perfect. She'll cook up a selfish scheme.. She has no shame in asking her friends to go along with her impulses. She is oblivious as, well, most real life teens are. But she's easy to root for because she's genuine and warm and kind underneath the frenetic exterior.

Is it award-winning fare? No. Is it going to transform Shin Eun Soo's acting career in to a stratospheric, A-list juggernaut? Also no.

But it definitely does enough that it wouldn't be a surprise if sometime in the near future, this actor does have that transformative, breakout performance.

Not a must see but recommended nevertheless.

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Shin Eun Soo Steals the Show

Love Untangled is one of several recent dramas set in the ’90s, a backdrop that some viewers will find nostalgic while others will be discovering for the first time. The film captures the era well, from school life to fashion trends, immersing the audience in its time period.

The performances are solid overall, though the group of friends feels underdeveloped; their personalities could have been explored more deeply. Instead, the movie is largely carried by Shin Eun Soo, who delivers a bold and touching performance that provides the story’s emotional core. Gong Myung also does what he can with Han Yun Seok, a character defined by his quiet, one-sided love, though the role gives him limited space to stand out.

As a youth romance, the film delivers what you’d expect: playful banter, tender moments, and the bittersweet process of learning how to navigate feelings for someone. However, several storylines feel underused, such as the rivalry with Park Se Ri’s sister, Yun Seok’s strained relationship with his father, and the love triangle, which never develops to its full dramatic potential despite its importance to the plot.

Ultimately, Love Untangled may be somewhat predictable, but it still offers a wholesome and enjoyable experience, particularly for fans of the genre.

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A simple and charming coming-of-age film that will leave a smile on your face

Love Untangled tells a story that is nothing new. The film doesn’t exactly create a brand new toy out of its old and overused parts, nor does it polish it. Instead, it honors its wornness in a way that is analogous to adorning your torn favorite childhood sweater with a cute patch. It is aware of its lack of innovation, so rather than actively shying away from it, it unapologetically embraces and leans to its nostalgic flare.

Subtlety is not its strength, but its charm reflects on its ability to wear its heart on its sleeve. It conveys its themes out in the open without leaving room for question, and sometimes, we just need a film like that. It doesn’t ask to be deconstructed, but rather invites us to experience the life of Se Ri and bask in its juvenility, wholesomeness, angst and innocence without looking too deep into it—no thinking, just feeling.

What brings us the most comfort is the familiar, and Love Untangled is exactly that. It brings flavors from the past and uses it to concoct an experience that we have all felt before, but wouldn’t mind savoring again.

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