Certified to make you laugh
This drama won't change the rom-com genre but if you are looking for a comfort watch, full of smartly use troupes and solid performances, then Love Your Enemy is for you.
Directed by Park Joon Hwa (What's Wrong with Secretary Kim) and written by Im Ye Jin (The Tale of Nokdu) the Love Your Enemy tells the story of two childhood friends who fell in love during their teenage years, only for a series of misunderstandings separating them. Almost two decades later, they find each other again and quickly realize their feelings for each other never went away.
The problem is that their families have been feuding for generations and their reunion happens because one family business is buying the other's. Hilarity, more misunderstandings, clarification and drama ensues.
I think Love Your Enemy managed to mix all the troupes in the best way possible thanks to a smartly developed script and really good performances from the entire cast but, particularly, from the leads in both versions as teens and adults.
It's really the teen version, played by Hong Min Gi and Oh Ye Ju, that bring all the heart to the story and make you want to root for their second chance as adults. Leaving the heavyweight lifting of having to emotionally deal with past and present events to Ju Ji Hoon and Jung Yumi, whom both bring a maturity to the roles. They also manage to display the same chemistry their younger counterparts built their relationship on.
There are, however, some issues with the story thanks to an unnecessary subplot that thankfully doesn't take up much for the drama but it plays a prominent part in the last two episodes. There was no need for it, the main couple having to deal with their feuding families was enough but I suppose a common enemy justifies bringing them together.
The sound designs it's really well done and use in certain scenes, particularly for comedy effects. The soundtrack it's outstanding, full of bops that complement the characters' emotions.
The cinematography it's really pretty, particularly on the flashback scenes, which makes sense because it's a reminiscence of when life was full of possibilities but, at the same time, it can get dark to complement the struggles of each character.
Overall, I think this was a good watch, certified to make you laugh.
Directed by Park Joon Hwa (What's Wrong with Secretary Kim) and written by Im Ye Jin (The Tale of Nokdu) the Love Your Enemy tells the story of two childhood friends who fell in love during their teenage years, only for a series of misunderstandings separating them. Almost two decades later, they find each other again and quickly realize their feelings for each other never went away.
The problem is that their families have been feuding for generations and their reunion happens because one family business is buying the other's. Hilarity, more misunderstandings, clarification and drama ensues.
I think Love Your Enemy managed to mix all the troupes in the best way possible thanks to a smartly developed script and really good performances from the entire cast but, particularly, from the leads in both versions as teens and adults.
It's really the teen version, played by Hong Min Gi and Oh Ye Ju, that bring all the heart to the story and make you want to root for their second chance as adults. Leaving the heavyweight lifting of having to emotionally deal with past and present events to Ju Ji Hoon and Jung Yumi, whom both bring a maturity to the roles. They also manage to display the same chemistry their younger counterparts built their relationship on.
There are, however, some issues with the story thanks to an unnecessary subplot that thankfully doesn't take up much for the drama but it plays a prominent part in the last two episodes. There was no need for it, the main couple having to deal with their feuding families was enough but I suppose a common enemy justifies bringing them together.
The sound designs it's really well done and use in certain scenes, particularly for comedy effects. The soundtrack it's outstanding, full of bops that complement the characters' emotions.
The cinematography it's really pretty, particularly on the flashback scenes, which makes sense because it's a reminiscence of when life was full of possibilities but, at the same time, it can get dark to complement the struggles of each character.
Overall, I think this was a good watch, certified to make you laugh.
Was this review helpful to you?
