Happy Place Romcoms: Super Upbeat and Super Sweet!

Keep people who can't handle romcoms FAR AWAY from this perfect chemistry-fest! They'll spoil the fun because they HATE LOVE. They'll say cheesy like it's a BAD THING. You know, cheesy is an insult that only gets tossed at ROMANCES. This is a true thing: ACTION DRAMAS never get called CHEESY for being EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE! 

There are some silly elements to this drama, but the main thing is: The lead couple's relationship is HOT AND ADORABLE. And the way they are together is not only delightful and touching, it also makes sense.

BUT, you do have to get ready for a little bit of wacky and silly and random elsewhere in the drama. Gangsters with hearts of gold. Childlike grownups who believe a questionable shaman. A gently angsty additional couple. Another couple that swing towards farce. This drama also morphs really fast at the beginning. But if you stick with it for a few episodes, the rewards just keep coming. Suspend your disbelief. Relax into the heat. Enjoy the love.

So much insanely feisty banter. Best meeting the in-law drinking sequence of all time. And a female lead whose response to life makes everything seem surmountable. This romcom is a solid gold smile-making, heart-lifting, laugh-o-rama wonder.

Bonus: also has a touching, real, emotionally sensitive side. Characters are full of humanity and contradiction. Truly sophisticated and smart, this drama hasn't aged a day since 2005.

The humor in this romcom is to die for and ranges from wacky slapstick to the kinds of laughs the writing earns by creating strong, full characters. But it's not all LOL in this smart, sharp drama. The funny perfectly contrasts with a more worldly wise view of relationships. Here are people who've made some mistakes, but still have hope and energy for another round of life. 

The female lead: Rich girl intellectual art expert with her head in the clouds. The male lead: Pork bone stew chain restaurant owner who is crass and awesome at making money. This one makes me grin from remembering both the awesome chemistry and the primo laughs. And bonus: consistent, intelligent writing!

Usually chaebols are mean, or at least have a mean side. But what if there's this one chaebol who was sheltered and pampered his entire life in a palace in France? And that turns him into green flag teddy bear with godlike shopping skills? And he's innocent and has zero ability to fend for himself? Well, then, of course if he finds himself in dire straits, a plucky, honest, kind country girl should appear to save him. 

This drama looks at the world through rose-colored glasses. An antagonist does start the plot going, but isn't in the picture much. Some cynical characters get involved. But they're inevitably absorbed into the universe of Sweetness Conquers All. This is 100% sugar, sugar, sugar.

Lead couple so sweet they make my teeth hurt. Second lead couple so entertaining I want them to have their own drama. Mopey wannabes that get satisfyingly put in their places, thoroughly proving how ideal the couples are. Family cuteness. Sister cuteness. Bands of buddies cuteness. And robot combat? Even the robots are cute!

Epic noble idiocy! Second leads who own an entire universe of demented! These tropes aren't for everyone, but they're perfect for this high farce. And this drama makes me laugh so hard, I believe anyone would forgive it for going to excess. Seriously: the Best Childish Bantering of All Time.

Just. So. Funny. Lead actors Cha Seung Won and Gong Hyo Jin are splendid as, respectively, egotistical action star and beleaguered has-been. The writing is sharp. Apart from the belly laughs, there's also a side benefit - a smart ass view of Hallyu.

Okay, so the plot is a tire fire, and there are some huge, operatic, emotional moments. And yet, I stand by this as an upbeat laugh riot. There's body swapping! And the mother-in-law is the nuclear option! I have to admit, though, I don't laugh AT her - she horrifies me. And also, I sobbed along with the female lead a coupla times. Yet this drama makes me laugh so hard. Its comedy superpower is Hyun Bin. He's supremely funny as Kim Joo Won, the most memorable conceited CEO of all time.