Change Your Image
PennyReviews
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try again
Ultimate Korean Drama List
Reviews
Fisk (2021)
Good Enough
*** This Review is for the first two seasons!! ***
'' Fisk '' is a law comedy that leans heavily on the slice of life, as Fisk, the main character, is navigating being single after getting divorce, getting back on her feet, and finding her footing in her new job.
The series isn't laugh out loud funny, but it has a light mood and you get to sympatise with Fisk more often than not. Plus, she has a fluffy dog, so that makes things easier.
The short cases she takes up spiced up the series, which is filled with bad colleagues and funny situations.
Finally, the performances were all enjoyable.
So, overall, seven out of ten.
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Good Enough
'' The Shop Around the Corner '' is a romantic comedy, and one could say the original '' You've got mail ''.
With a Christmass-y setting and fairy tale vibes, the movie is cozy and wholesome. The story is pretty interesting and well paced, as it explores the relationship between the two work rivals and their correspondance romance.
In addition, the subbtle humour aided the story and made it even more light and enhanced the feel good mood.
Finally, the performances by every actor and actress in the cast were enjoyable.
So, overall, eight out of ten for '' The shop around the corner ''......
Ghosts (2019)
Good Enough
'' Ghosts '' is a fantasy comedy drama about a couple who move into a haunted house, only for the wife to end up able to see and communicate with them.
The series is quite wholesome, with the audience getting to know the ghosts slowly and learn about their deaths and stories as the series progresses. It was also nice to watch how the main couple dealt with the ghosts and their financial situation. The humour was also enjoyable, more subtle, but kept the series on a feel good level.
Finally, the performances by every actor and actress in the cast were great and enjoyable.
So, overall, eight ouf of ten.
The Office (2024)
Not Good Enough
'' The Office '' 2024 version is the Australian adaption of the UK office sitcom.
Though it gives a fresh perspective to the story, with a female lead as the new Michael and an Aussie take on things, it fails to impress.
First of all, the characters were annoying. They were annoying but good hearted, like in the other versions, but more like egoistic a___holes who don't bring out laughter with their clowning.
Also, new Pam and Jim were underdeveloped and it was hard to root for them as they had like two scenes together.
At least, the performances were enjoyable. The script, not so much.
So, overall, four out of ten.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
Not Good Enough
'' Hocus Pocus Two '' is the sequel to the cult classic '' Hocus Pocus ''.
The movie tries too hard to feel nostalgic and bring up scenes from the original, but, instead of being funny and bittersweet, it ends up being cringey.
And even though everyone in the cast did a great job with their characters, and it was nice to see the three witches again (they were delghtful as ever and their redemption arc was welcomes, tohugh not ultilized to its maximum and left half baked), the movie fails to impress and feels as reheated supper.
So, overall, four out of ten for the 2022 sequel of '' Hocus Pocus''.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Good Enough
'' Hocus Pocus '' is a cult classic family hallow'een movie, oozing nostalgia and magic.
The story progress smoothly, with the three witches being delightful to watch and their performances being near perfection. Their chemistry was chef kiss too, proven by the way they often moved as one body and as they picked each other's line up.
The children, in addition, did a good job with their characters as well, though, they were overshadowed by the witches.
Key point of the movie, the ''I've put a spell on you'' performance that was entertaining and beautiful.
So, overall, seven out of ten for '' Hocus Pocus''.
Dragonwyck (1946)
Not Good Enough
'' Dragonwyck '' is a gothic romance and a movie adaption of the novel of the same tilte.
The movie has some smooth performances that create suspence when it is needed, borderline horror by the male lead and fairy tale naivitee by the leading lady.
And yet, and even though the story feels like a dark fable, with the dragon and the princess and the haunting castle, the movie moves too fast and it looses it's gothic atmosphere and thrill that it had enstablished in the first half.
The ending, on the other hand, was spot on dark and moody and it was added by the side characters who, up until that point, had few and spars scenes.
My Cousin Rachel (2017)
Good Enough
'' My Cousin Rachel '' is the movie adaption of gothic novel of the same title by the Queen of the genre Du Maurier.
The movie does a good job creating a haunting atmosphere, with spot on cotumes and beautiful settings.
The performances, in addition, were enjoyable, with our leading lady being deliciously good and the male lead portraying the naive youth perfectly.
And still, the movie feels lifeless. It's probably due to the pace, which is hectic, as they were trying way too hard to fit everything in. The result: unconvincing progress of the story and lack of the thrill that the anti hero could have provided.
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
Good Enough
' ' The Importance of Being Earnest ' ' is a witty tale of misunderstandings and diception.
Oscar Wilde's humour is at full speed in this one, and the excecution follows close, with well fleshed out characters and enjoyable performances.
However, it must be noted that the pace of the movie isn't as smooth as it should, with a hectic pace that more often than not didn't allow the narration to develop organically.
Still, the dialogues are delightful and the humour-comedy scenes were spot on, with a delicious ending to boot.
So, overall, six out of ten for the ''Importance of Being Earnest''.
Sae-byeok 2-si-eui sin-de-rel-la (2024)
Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Cinderella at 2 AM '' tries to reverse the trope of the evil mother in law who gives money to the girl in order to prevent an upcoming marriage. However, the drama fails to utilize it. Instead, it ends up being a classic melodrama.
The drama starts off nicely and it does a good job blending a fun and light love story with a cute male lead with darker themes, like domestic abuse. Also, the second couple was adorable as well and they kept things fresh when the main love story got stale.
In addition, there were some episodes that had too many fillers and it was obvious that the drama needed to be shorter. Yet, it was enjoyable.
Finally, every actor and actress in the cast did a good job with their performance.
So, overall, six out of ten.
Renai Batoru Rowaiyaru (2024)
Good Enough
Japanese Drama '' Chastity High '' is a school melodrama.
The story centers around the main lead, Arisawa Ichika, as she struggles to survive financially and becomes an unexpected hero.
The drama tackles a lot of themes, with sensitivity and care, but, due to its length, it doesn't manage to present them properly. None of them has the proper organic development and some of them, especially the romance, feel rashed.
Still, the characters were interesting and the actors and actresses of the cast did an amazing job with their performances.
So, overall, seven out of ten for '' Chastity High ''.
Barefoot in the Park (1967)
Good Enough
'' Barefoot in the park '' is a romantic comedy about a newly wedded couple who go through the waves of getting to know each other.
The movie is quite funny, with perky characters and smart and sharp lines. The main couple is quite entertaining, being the two pollar opposites but with their chemistry overflowing.
Also, the performances were great, even by the actors and actresses playing the side characters.
The costumes and settings, in addition, were all perfect and added to the fun atmosphere of the movie.
So, overall, seven out of ten for '' Barefoot in the Park '' . It's a pretty entertaining movie.
Mad Men (2007)
Good Enough
'' Mad Men '' is a period office drama with black comedy to its core.
The series centers around Don Draper, a egotistic man who is working at an advertising company. And it is true that it was entertaining and intriguing to watch for the first seasons, but it got repetitive and tiring after a while, as Don was Don and he kept going in circles. That is when I wish there was more screentime for the ladies of the show who started having more interesting storylines compared to Don. Even the side characters were more unpredictable than him.
Finally, the performances by everyone in the cast were enjoyable.
Uglies (2024)
Good Enough
'' Uglies '' is a dystopian fantasy YA movie based on the popular book series of the same title by Scott Westerfeld.
Full honesty, if this was out when the books were popular, or when I was a teen and read them, I would have enjoyed this movie much much much more. It is dated, as it follows many tropes of back then, when dystopian fantasy was at its peak.
Yet, there were some enjoyable moments in this movie, with a strong start and a smooth ending. However, if this was made into a mini series, things would have developed more organically and with a smoother pace.
Finally, the performances were all enjoyable.
Kahogona wakadanna-sama no amayakashi-kon (2024)
Not Good Enough
Japanese Drama '' Kahogona Wakadanna-sama no Amayakashi Kon '' is a romantic melodrama.
The short length of the drama means that the story moves too fast. Thus, the love story had a messy pace and used some cheesy cliches to cover that up.
On the bright side, there were some cute moments between the couple, and the main character's journey to make her culinary dreams come true was interesting and it would have been nice if they had focused more on that part.
Finally, the performances from everyone in the cast were enjoyable.
So, overall, five out of ten for '' Kahogona Wakadanna-sama no Amayakashi Kon ''
Naui Wiheomhan Anae (2020)
Good Enough
Korean Drama '' My Dangerous Wife '' is a psychological thriller - comedy.
The drama has a strong start, with the thriller being intense and the dark humor blending nicely with the plot.
However, the drama got tiring to watch after a while. The twists got repetitive and they ended up being too much.
At least the ending was original and unexpected.
Finally, the performances were all great by every actor and actress in the cast and the pace of the story was fast.
So, overall, six out of ten for '' My Dangerous Wife ''. It had a nice start, but it got too much in the end with all those twists.
Bimileun Eobseo (2024)
Not Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Frankly Speaking '' is a romantic comedy which blends in a lot of genres but ends up a hot mess.
The drama starts off smoothly, but soon it loses its way and gets all messy. It actually turns into a completely different drama, completely forgetting its original storylines and ending up being all over the place.
Thus, the romance was swept up into this mess and was hard to enjoy it. The comedy part got weeker and weeker as well.
The performances, on the other hand, were all great by every actor and actress of the cast and, especially, the two main leads.
So, overall, two out of ten.
Beuramseureul Joahaseyo (2020)
Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Do You Like Brahms '' is a slice of life romance.
The drama has an interesting theme, and its slow pace allows the characters to deeply connect and to let their relationships develop organically. It was also a positive note that the drama didn't focus solely on the romance but, rather, on the characters and their life's journey, their hopes and dreams, and how they deal with their fears and misfortunes.
On the other hand, the second half and, especially the final episodes, were quite boring, as there were few things to get resolved.
Finally, the performances were all great by every actor and actress in the cast and the music was enjoyable.
So, overall, five out of ten.
Graduation (2024)
Not Good Enough
Korean Drama '' The Midnight Romance in Hagwon '' is a school romantic melodrama.
The drama is slow paced and feels relaxing and comforting. The cinematography is soothing and the camerawork makes the viewing experience feel like the audience is peeking into the characters' lives.
The start of the drama, moreover, was nice, with the story taking its time to settle in.
However, after a while, nothing really happened. The romance was enjoyable, yes, but wasn't enough to save things, and the school drama wasn't intense enough to peek things up.
On the other hand, the performances were enjoyable by every actor and actress of the cast.
So, overall, three out of ten.
U-yeon-il-kka (2024)
Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Serendipity's Embrace '' is a romantic melodrama.
The drama presents the current storyline, with what has happened in the past slowly being unfolded as the story progresses. That way, the drama got nostalgic and also kept the interest high, as the main story was more or less predictable.
The romance, in addition, was sweet and was nicely paced, though, in the final episodes, things got weaker.
Still, the side couple kept things interesting when the main one got boring.
On the other hand, the performances were all enjoyable.
So, overall, six out of ten. For serendipity's embrace.
Bat-gwa Bam-i Da-reun Geu-nyeo (2024)
Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Miss Night and Day '' is a fantasy romantic comedy with some mystery thrown in the mixture.
The drama starts off pretty strongly, and it handles the fantasy element well and smoothly, embedding it nicely in the main plot.
The use of the mystery case, along with the romance which was sprinkled in it and wasn't the main focus of the story, thankfully, all worked in the story's favor.
However, the final episodes were not that good. The drama got messy and the fantasy element was awkwardly resolved.
On the other hand, the performances were all enjoyable by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, seven out of ten.
Nolajuneun Yeoja (2024)
Good Enough
Korean Drama '' My Sweet Mobster '' is a romantic comedy, with a romance between miss sunshine and gone good mobster.
The drama utilizes this odd couple to the fullest, with their differences being used as a means for the comedy. The comedy was also enhanced by the band of ex-cons who were our mobster's crew and had created a beautiful found family along with the leading lady.
The romance was also cute and the couple had plenty of sweet and romantic moments.
However, the final episodes were boring and had few surprises to offer.
Finally, the performances were all great by everyone in the cast.
So, overall, six out of ten.
Dreaming of a Freaking Fairy Tale (2024)
Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale '' is a romantic comedy with an emphasis on the comedy.
The drama feels and looks like one of those older Korean rom coms, with the over the top scenes and the over the top acting. And yet, it worked, as it was nostalgic and fun to boot.
The story was entertaining as well. Yes, it was predictable and the love triangle was boring, but the love story was well paced and there were a lot of funny and sweet moments between the couple.
In addition, the settings and the costumes were all pretty.
Finally, the performances were all enjoyable.
So, overall, seven out of ten.
Dare to Love Me (2024)
Not Good Enough
Korean Drama '' Treat Me Carelessly '' is a romantic comedy with some action scenes thrown into the mixture.
The drama has its moments, with the main idea of a man living as a scholar in a forbidden-to-enter village and protecting the historical heritage was interesting and entertaining at times. But the drama didn't really utilize the cultural shock he was experiencing to enhance the comedy, but focused on the romance, which was boring and oddly paced.
Also, the mystery case got boring as well and the ending was anticlimactic. The second half was so weak and messy that nothing could redeem the drama.
The performances, on the other hand, were enjoyable, some of them were weak though.
So, overall, three out of ten.
Bijinesu-kon - Suki ni nattara rikon-shimasu - (2024)
Not Good Enough
Japanese Drama '' Bijinesu-kon - Suki ni nattara rikon-shimasu '' is a short drama about a contracted relationship.
The drama has a pretty common story, which seems popular in Japanese romantic comedies: the contracted marriage. This time around, however, probably due to the length of the drama and the limited budget (I mean, most of the settings were green screen with a few pieces of furniture), the story was messy and was rushed, especially when it came to the twists, which were quickly resolved.
The performances, on the other hand, were enjoyable by everyone in the cast.
So, overall three out of ten. The drama was predictable, but it had its moments.