The film that got the most requests was the South Korean romantic comedy 200 Pounds Beauty. Therefore, I watched what was referred to as "funny" and "kinda romantic".
200 Pounds Beauty
Directed by Kim Yong-hwa, starring Kim Ah-jong and Ju Jin-mo.
Han-na (Kim) has a successful singing career and throngs of adoring fans. She has what every popstar chaser dreams of. The only problem is, Han-na is overweight, and considered ugly, so adoration and popularity is given to a prettier, slimmer girl, for whom Han-na provides the talent.
While Han-na isn't terribly proud of her circumstances, she tries to make the best of them. She doesn't complain about a no-talent hack getting all the spotlight, and she actually goes out of her way to help others. Han-na also finds a little piece of happiness in her love for the man behind the curtain of the Milli Vanilli-esque musical act, her producer, Sang-jun (Ju).
However, all the optimisim in the world isn't enough, as Han-na is reminded of her outward appearance by her friend, addle-minded father, and collegues, causing her to take drastic steps to change who she is. And change she does. Han-na has a year filled with plastic surgeries and exercise that completely changes the way she looks.
Unfortunately, in seeking to make herself beautiful on the oustide, Han-na becomes ugly on the inside. Thinking she can have everything she ever wanted because she now has a slim body and pretty face, Han-na sets out to get the man and career she has dreamed of. Along the way, Han-na learns where beauty really comes from, and in the end, must decide what it is that matters to her most.
200 Pounds Beauty tackles a difficult subject and mostly succeeds at making a statement about how people perceive beauty. Underneath the standard romantic trappings and comedic asides, 200 Pounds Beauty subtly, by commercial film standards, tries to show the viewer that true happiness doesn't necessarily come with Barbie-like looks. When Han-na was considered fat and ugly, she had a good heart. Following her makeover, Han-na shows an ugly side, stepping on others to get ahead, and belittling them to quell her own insecurities.
The filmmakers should be lauded for any effort they put into challenging the public perception that physical beauty is all that matters. For Han-na's realization alone (that it is what a person has on the inside that counts) they should be given credit. That they managed that inside of an entertaining, if somewhat standard, romantic comedy is commendable.
200 Pounds Beauty isn't going to shatter stereotypes or make huge changes in society, but the mere fact that it presents it's subject matter in an endearing way that also entertains is enough to call it good. For a romantic comedy with a little bit of heart, 200 Pounds Beauty is a winner. One might say it's funny, and even kinda romantic.
Now, dear readers, what should I watch next?
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