22
27
3
2
1
3
5
4
7
2
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
2
5
1
4
This review may contain spoilers
I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
Overall, this is a really solid adaptation that stays true to the spirit of the original work while making thoughtful choices about what to include, exclude, and reimagine. It hits all the key emotional beats!
One of the biggest strengths is how much of the original’s voice remains intact. The humor, the oddball charm, the characters’ personalities, so much of it carries over. Most of the iconic gags are kept, and those that wouldn’t have translated well to live-action are smartly trimmed. Instead, they’ve added original scenes, like the amusement park sequence, that feel cohesive and emotionally resonant. That scene in particular really works both as a storytelling beat and as comic relief.
The casting and performances are excellent. Every actor feels well-suited to their role, and their delivery brings depth and believability to scenes that could easily have tipped into caricature. And the adaptation doesn’t shy away from reworking moments that were more controversial in the original. For example, Jung-hwan’s infamous “Soo-ah, bite me!” line is reinterpreted here; now, Soo-ah bites Lee Moon-ki on her own, and Jung-hwan intervenes to stop her. It reframes the dynamic in a way that’s cleaner, clearer, and much more in tune with the emotional tone of the film.
Another major change? The ending. In the original, Jung-hwan dies, but here, he survives after a coma, and ahh that happy ending choice reallyyy landed with me. It offers a sense of catharsis and hope that feels earned. His new job as an animal trainer also adds a sweet layer of plausibility to Soo-ah’s own growth and discipline. It’s a smart, emotionally satisfying change that works.
There are a few shifts in focus. Imo, Shin Yeon-hwa and Soo-ah’s school life took more of a backseat in this version, but that didn’t take away from the emotional core. The tone does shift more into family film territory in the second half, with added warmth and tenderness. And yes, there’s a moment near the end involving Soo-ah’s vision in their old home in Seoul that adds that bittersweet, nostalgic note that ties everything together.
Visually, though, this film is rich and vibrant. The setting of Eunbong-ri is stunning, full of seasonal beauty and quiet details that ground the story in a real place. The humor and visuals work hand in hand, and there’s a softness to the world-building that’s genuinely moving.
The dance element introduced in the adaptation also brought some interesting texture. I appreciate how it visually ties memory, movement, and healing together. The musical-style finale, where Soo A, now cured, dance to BoA’s “No.1” on stage with her new friends, bring a kind of closure for me that feels celebratory.
In the end, I'd say, it’s a tender, thoughtfully crafted film that wears its heart on its sleeve: full of warmth, charm, and quiet emotional truth. It leaves you with a lump in your throat, a soft smile, and the comforting sense that healing, no matter how messy, is always possible.
One of the biggest strengths is how much of the original’s voice remains intact. The humor, the oddball charm, the characters’ personalities, so much of it carries over. Most of the iconic gags are kept, and those that wouldn’t have translated well to live-action are smartly trimmed. Instead, they’ve added original scenes, like the amusement park sequence, that feel cohesive and emotionally resonant. That scene in particular really works both as a storytelling beat and as comic relief.
The casting and performances are excellent. Every actor feels well-suited to their role, and their delivery brings depth and believability to scenes that could easily have tipped into caricature. And the adaptation doesn’t shy away from reworking moments that were more controversial in the original. For example, Jung-hwan’s infamous “Soo-ah, bite me!” line is reinterpreted here; now, Soo-ah bites Lee Moon-ki on her own, and Jung-hwan intervenes to stop her. It reframes the dynamic in a way that’s cleaner, clearer, and much more in tune with the emotional tone of the film.
Another major change? The ending. In the original, Jung-hwan dies, but here, he survives after a coma, and ahh that happy ending choice reallyyy landed with me. It offers a sense of catharsis and hope that feels earned. His new job as an animal trainer also adds a sweet layer of plausibility to Soo-ah’s own growth and discipline. It’s a smart, emotionally satisfying change that works.
There are a few shifts in focus. Imo, Shin Yeon-hwa and Soo-ah’s school life took more of a backseat in this version, but that didn’t take away from the emotional core. The tone does shift more into family film territory in the second half, with added warmth and tenderness. And yes, there’s a moment near the end involving Soo-ah’s vision in their old home in Seoul that adds that bittersweet, nostalgic note that ties everything together.
Visually, though, this film is rich and vibrant. The setting of Eunbong-ri is stunning, full of seasonal beauty and quiet details that ground the story in a real place. The humor and visuals work hand in hand, and there’s a softness to the world-building that’s genuinely moving.
The dance element introduced in the adaptation also brought some interesting texture. I appreciate how it visually ties memory, movement, and healing together. The musical-style finale, where Soo A, now cured, dance to BoA’s “No.1” on stage with her new friends, bring a kind of closure for me that feels celebratory.
In the end, I'd say, it’s a tender, thoughtfully crafted film that wears its heart on its sleeve: full of warmth, charm, and quiet emotional truth. It leaves you with a lump in your throat, a soft smile, and the comforting sense that healing, no matter how messy, is always possible.
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