This show is quickly starting to rival my favorite family comedies. It’s got a great sense of humor, and it’s not afraid to let characters make massive mistakes, with the understanding that we’re going to be along for the ride when they learn, change, and grow.

Now that I’m at the halfway-ish point, it’s time to check back in with Ojakkyo Brothers, to see how our little duckies are doing. This review covers Episodes 11 through 36 (Here’s 1-10 if you missed it), which is quite a chunk, but it’s really two big arcs for the main story: a stray little ducky waddles into their hearts, and then they get separated before realizing how much she’d already become a part of the family.

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Read the rest of Ojakkyo Brothers: Halftime report (4,286 words)

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Post tags: Choi Jung-yoon, featured, Joo-won, Jung Woong-in, Ojakkyo Brothers, Ryu Soo-young, UEE

One of the highest-rated shows of 2011 was actually one that we couldn’t include in the year-end reviews because of its length and that whole space-time continuum thing: the weekend family drama Ojakkyo Brothers, on KBS. I don’t normally pick up family dramas because I find it daunting to start a longer-running show. (I know, I have commitment issues.) But this weekend drama has been far ahead of the pack in the ratings game, and has gotten some rave reviews in Korea. So I decided to check it out, and see for myself if it was hype or well-deserved praise.

I’m ten episodes in, which isn’t very far considering the show’s been extended to 58 episodes. But so far it’s got a good premise, a great cast of characters, and lots of potential for both comedy and heart. Basically I’m just going to introduce the series and give you my first impressions, because while ten episodes might be most of a miniseries, here it’s just the beginning.

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Read the rest of Ojakkyo Brothers: An Introduction (3,313 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 121 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Jung-yoon, featured, Joo-won, Jung Woong-in, Ojakkyo Brothers, Ryu Soo-young, UEE

Cable station tvN has entered the midweek prime-time fray with Manny, its new 16-episode romantic-comedy about a male live-in nanny who comes to care for the two kids of a single mom. He’s the consummate pro, she’s the frazzled careerwoman, and together they’ll clash and bicker and romance their way to true love.

I was hoping it would be funny and engaging, and so far my expectations are met (and exceeded) — the drama is pretty simple, but hits that sweet spot of feel-good fun and touching moments. It’s a light, easy watch that makes you smile, bolstered by an engaging cast and amusing scenarios.

[Watch the series at DramaFever]

SONG OF THE DAY

Monni – “망설이지 마요” (Don’t Hesitate) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Manny: Episodes 1-2 (3,392 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 111 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, cable programs, Choi Jung-yoon, featured, first episodes, Manny, Seo Ji-seok

I Am Dad is the new crime thriller starring Kim Seung-woo as a badass dad out to save his daughter, which opened today in Korea. And…I can’t help but think that it looks a little…familiar.

I Am Dad has already attracted lots of comparisons to last year’s crime thriller Ajusshi (aka The Man From Nowhere), which starred Won Bin as a reclusive ex-badass who emerges from seclusion to rescue a young neighbor when the girl is kidnapped by gangsters. Especially since both movies star the same young actress, Kim Sae-ron.

The movies aren’t actually that similar in plot, which is why it’s too bad that I Am Dad is being marketed in the same way. For instance, the posters sure hammer in the point, don’t they? (Above: I Am Dad. To right: Ajusshi.) And really, ya couldn’t pick a different font?

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Read the rest of I Am Dad features Kim Seung-woo as world’s worst dad (482 words)

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Post tags: Choi Jung-yoon, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Seung-woo

Today marks the launch day of cable channel tvN’s prime-time drama Manny, which stars Seo Ji-seok (Gloria) as a top-rated Seoul nanny. And how cute is he with his charge? The boy almost looks like a little mini-me, with their matching curly hair and prosh outfits.

Seo plays Yi-han, a live-in manny from New York who cares for the two children of a careerwoman single mom, and he and the mother end up falling in love. The premise is simple, but the dynamic is not so common in K-dramas — a male caregiver partnered with a female breadwinner, plus the fact that she’s his employer, and several years older to boot — and it’s the reversal that makes this interesting.

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Read the rest of Cable rom-com Manny premieres on tvN (164 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, cable programs, Choi Jung-yoon, Manny, Seo Ji-seok

Another cast member has been added to the upcoming tvN drama Manny: model-actress Byun Jung-soo (Pasta), who reunites with her Bad Couple buddy, Choi Jung-yoon (Smile, You) — albeit as rivals, this time.

The drama stars Seo Ji-seok (Gloria, OB-GYN) as a proud New Yorker who’s employed as Seoul’s top manny –a man nanny — who works for and lives with a single mom with two kids (Choi). Romance and comedy ensue.

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Read the rest of Manny has its love triangle (284 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jung-yoon, Manny, Seo Ji-seok

Oh, Korea. You and your almost-but-not-quite-sensical titles.

This time it’s a cable drama called Manny, which is a mishmash of MAN + NANNY. I can’t even call it a portmanteau because that feels way too highbrow a description of the term. No, let’s call it ungodly union (which, by the way, is also what my friend calls the frantic pairing-off that occurs at 1:55 am in every dimly lit bar every night just before the lights come on). And yes, I know the word isn’t new, but that doesn’t make it any less cringe-inducing now.

The drama is slated for 16 episodes, and, interestingly enough, will be tvN’s attempt to compete on Wednesdays and Thursday nights. The cable channel has been home to some solid programming — two notables are Harvest Villa and Joseon X-Files — but those were late-night Friday offerings. Manny, on the other hand, will broadcast during prime time.

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Read the rest of Seo Ji-seok is The Manny (165 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 60 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cable programs, Choi Jung-yoon, Manny, Seo Ji-seok

Actress Choi Jung-yoon (Smile, Bad Couple, Attic Cat) is heading back to the big screen for the first time in four years, co-starring with IRIS’s Kim Seung-woo in the movie His Counterattack [놈의 역습], described as a “human thriller.”

The film unfolds as the main character, to be played by Sohn Byung-ho (Giant’s construction company president Hong), is falsely charged with murder by a corrupt detective, who will be played (brilliantly, I anticipate) by Kim Seung-woo. After clearing his name, Sohn faces that detective in a “desperate confrontation” that plays out themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.

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Read the rest of Choi Jung-yoon joins Kim Seung-woo in thriller (228 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Jung-yoon, Kim Seung-woo

Hello all! Sorry for the hiatus… computer issues coupled with some apartment redecorating had kept me away from the wonderful world wide web. I just recently caught episode 22 and was glad to see the relationship between Hyun-soo and Jung-in develop a bit and pass the early stages of bubbly cuteness.

And as many (including myself) had desired, we finally got a couple of scenes out of the usual locales which was a nice change of pace. But in the end, family kdramas tend to stick to the few tried and true scenes, so I don’t expect much variation. And Smile hasn’t really shown any good camera work, keeping it fairly simple and boring: another reason to keep our expectations low.

I again found this episode to be a bit slow, but the scenes towards the end with Han-se and the couple made up for most of the dullness of the first half.

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Read the rest of Smile: Episode 22 (2,476 words)

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Post tags: Choi Jung-yoon, Jung Kyung-ho, Lee Kyu-han, Lee Min-jung, Smile

Smile is hitting exactly the right notes for me. Though not wildly innovative, there’s something organic and sweet about the pacing and tone that I really enjoy. When there’s as much chemistry & development as there is in these two episodes, reducing the repartee to a line of summary just doesn’t do it justice. So I apologize if these recaps get a bit long-winded!

The actors play off each other really well in small ways that are especially hard to capture, like the moment above when Jung-in makes an excited puppy-face at Hyun-soo. Out of context, it looks almost silly, but it’s the kind of unapologetically endearing moments that abound in this drama.

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Read the rest of Smile: Episodes 13-14 (4,616 words)

© soyjoy for Dramabeans, 2009. | Permalink | 68 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Choi Jung-yoon, Jung Kyung-ho, Lee Min-jung, Smile