200 Pounds Beauty is a romantic comedy film starring Kim Ah-joong as Kim Ha-na. Ha-na is a very overweight sex phone operator, but she is also the vocals behind a famous idol who can't sing.
Before I start the review, I have to say that whoever did the casting did a great job! Kim Ah-joong was the perfect choice to be the lead character as she can act and she can sing!
Kim Ha-na appears to like both of her jobs and her little dog. She appears to have only friend and doesn't have a lot of money. Due to her weight problem she appears to suffer from low self-esteem and is easily scammed by her "boyfriend" because of this. Her crush is the producer who appears to care about her and doesn't try to mistreat her like the others. It's clear that Ha-na is a lovable person with a sweet personality, but it's due to her weight that people tend to shy away from her. It's hard for especially living in a country where being overweight is a big "no-no". She decides to get plastic surgery after being humiliated at a party. She is able to use her connections as a phone sex operator to get all the surgery for free.
It's hard to watch her as you know society won't accept her as we all want sexy singers. Look at all the Korean idols, almost all of them are skinny unless they are comedians. This seems to be quite a difficult position for Ha-na to be in. As she wants to sing but due to her appearance she won't be accepted by the public so she is forced to be the voice behind a nasty woman.
After the surgery, Ha-na is reborn as Jenny, a Korean-American who has powerful vocals. She is a little shy at first as she is not used to all the positive attention. Towards the end of the film, she becomes more confident and less shy. She knows she is sexy now but doesn't truly know how to use her "new" body right. She is a little awkward at times but in the end she changes and fully accepts her new name. Jenny is able to be the person she always dreamed about being when she was Ha-na. Although in the end, she can't hide who she truly is. Her personality didn't really change much, she is still sweet, a little bit native, and caring. It is because she is a caring person as she adores her ill father that she is forced to make the confession that can take away everything that she was given.
200 Pounds Beauty is a wonderful film for many reasons. Kim Ah-joong is able to express so many emotions that it seemed like she was the perfect actress for this role. Yes, she can sing which really surprised me. It is always a nice treat to see that an actress can also be a good singer if she wants to be. I had a hard time realizing the message behind the film. Sometimes I thought the film was anti-plastic surgery but other times it came across pro-surgery. It was quite difficult to pinpoint which one the director wanted the viewer to get. I think it depends on the kind of person you are. I like to think that this film is anti-plastic surgery to a certain point, but I won't continue to talk about it.
The director, Kim Yong-hwa, did a great job pulling this all together to make a successful film. The script was good as was the dialogue. I felt like the cast had a good time making this film and that is important. Each actor and actress was able to bring their best in this romantic comedy. Yet it was Kim Ah-joong who truly shined in this film.
3.5/5
Cast & Crew
Also Appeared In:
Steal My Heart
Dramas:
On Air
The Accidental Couple
Sign
Joon Jin-mo (this for my female viewers)
Also Appeared In:
A Better Tomorrow
Friend: The Great Legacy
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