Most people aren't aware that this movie is an adaptation of a Japanese comic entitled "Kimi wa Pet." I read it a few years back, so as a warning, I must say that this review is highly influenced by my love of the comic.
As a fan of "Kimi wa Pet," I can say that this film reached my expectations. While the comic presented a great social commentary on the expectations imposed on the different genders, what inspired me to keep reading was the questionable relationship between the main characters. Their relationship in the comic was nothing short of entertaining and oftentimes, heartwarming. While this movie may have been lacking in tear-jerking scenes, it nonetheless compensates with fun and quirky interactions between the two leads. I couldn't stop laughing because of the film's slapstick and sometimes witty humor. Also, I loved the chemistry between Eun Hi and Momo; I loved how natural and fluid their interactions were. The transformation from thought-provoking social commentary to bubbly, budding romance was a good move considering the short time allocated; I don't think you'd want to bore the audience by parading a variety of social issues when they came to see a romantic comedy. I would have HATED the film if it tried to address the gender roles issue in such a short amount of time. It would have just seemed too pretentious if it tried to cram it along with the main struggles in the film (having a human for a pet should be enough of an issue to address in 2 hours).
At the same time, it satisfactorily gives the audience the closure we (aka I) wanted (i.e. happy ending where the two finally get together). As a fan of the comic, this is the adaptation which satisfied my fan girl needs.
I do realize that the film may be shocking and difficult to understand for those who didn't read the comic as a precursor. While the film somehow managed to reflect the change and development in the feelings of the characters, the same felt a bit lacking. I had to use my recollection of the comic to supplement some parts. That shouldn't be an obstacle to the film viewing, though, since the movie provides sufficient entertainment to keep you occupied from noticing the minor lapses.
As a fan of "Kimi wa Pet," I can say that this film reached my expectations. While the comic presented a great social commentary on the expectations imposed on the different genders, what inspired me to keep reading was the questionable relationship between the main characters. Their relationship in the comic was nothing short of entertaining and oftentimes, heartwarming. While this movie may have been lacking in tear-jerking scenes, it nonetheless compensates with fun and quirky interactions between the two leads. I couldn't stop laughing because of the film's slapstick and sometimes witty humor. Also, I loved the chemistry between Eun Hi and Momo; I loved how natural and fluid their interactions were. The transformation from thought-provoking social commentary to bubbly, budding romance was a good move considering the short time allocated; I don't think you'd want to bore the audience by parading a variety of social issues when they came to see a romantic comedy. I would have HATED the film if it tried to address the gender roles issue in such a short amount of time. It would have just seemed too pretentious if it tried to cram it along with the main struggles in the film (having a human for a pet should be enough of an issue to address in 2 hours).
At the same time, it satisfactorily gives the audience the closure we (aka I) wanted (i.e. happy ending where the two finally get together). As a fan of the comic, this is the adaptation which satisfied my fan girl needs.
I do realize that the film may be shocking and difficult to understand for those who didn't read the comic as a precursor. While the film somehow managed to reflect the change and development in the feelings of the characters, the same felt a bit lacking. I had to use my recollection of the comic to supplement some parts. That shouldn't be an obstacle to the film viewing, though, since the movie provides sufficient entertainment to keep you occupied from noticing the minor lapses.