200 Pounds Beauty (Variety Review)

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"200 Pounds Beauty"
Written by Derek Elley
Wednesday, 07 March 2007

"200 Pounds Beauty" (South Korea)
A Showbox/Mediaplex release of a KM Culture presentation of a REALies Pictures, KM Culture production. (International sales: KM Culture, Seoul.) Produced by Park Mu-seung, Weon Dong-yeon. Executive producer, Park. Directed by Kim Yong-hwa. Screenplay, Kim, Noh Hye-yeong, based on the comicbook by Yumiko Suzuki.

With: Ju Jin-mo, Kim A-jung, Kim Hyeon-suk, Lee Han-wi, Seo Yun, Seong Dong-il, Kim Yong-geon, Im Hyeon-shik, Park Noh-shik, Park Hwi-suk, Lee Weon-jong, Lee Beom-su, Ryu Seung-su.

South Korea gets its first "fatty" comedy in "200 Pounds Beauty," a likable but slightly flabby allegory about how fame and looks aren't everything. Massive sleeper hit on home turf -- where cosmetic surgery is rampant -- has racked up more than 6.2 million admissions ($38 million) since December, though offshore a Western makeover with a name U.S. star would prove more profitable.

In highly convincing latex makeup designed by Hollywood's Chris Burgoyne and Kris Kobzina ("Red Dragon"), thesp Kim A-jung is terrific as sad-sack chubby Hanna Kang who, "Singin' in the Rain" style, provides the vocals for talentless pop bitch Ammy (Seo Yun). Hanna is secretly in love with handsome music producer Sang-jun (Ju Jin-mo) and goes under the surgeon's knife to emerge as stunning Korean-American "discovery" Jenny, galvanizing Sang-jun and scuppering the vengeful Ammy's career. Ending is visible from six reels away, but Kim's charmingly sexy perf carries the day to the big solo concert finale, where home truths belatedly dawn. Helming by Kim Yong-hwa ("Oh! Brother") is OK but could be slicker; 10-15 minutes' tightening would sharpen the satire.




http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/904/