Summer Friday Movie Nights: Spellbound

I had two goals this summer, and one of them was to watch more movies and thought it would be fun to have a series this summer where I review a movie every Friday. Coincidentally, this is my first review on the site!

Today’s movie is Spellbound - 오싹한 연애 (also known as My Girlfriend Can See Ghosts)
Release Date: 2011
Director: Hwang In Ho
Starring: Son Ye Jin and Lee Min Ki
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Jo Goo (Lee Min Ki) is a street magician who notices Yeo Ri (Son Ye Jin) in the crowd during a performance and is drawn to her because of how miserable she looks. He decides to approach her, and develops a horror themed magic show because of their interactions that is successful and he hires her to help with the trick. Trying to get to know her, Jo Goo finally gets Yeo Ri to attend a team dinner. She gets drunk, and the next day doesn’t show up to work. Jo Goo calls her to find out what’s wrong and is worried when during the phone call he hears a weird sound. He goes to check up on her and then learns that she can see ghost is and is constantly haunted by the ghost of a dead friend.

My quick non-spoiler review: Even though this movie had it’s downfalls with rushed storyline and lacking plots that could be developed a little better, I liked it and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a cute romantic comedy. Or if you are a fan of Son Ye Jin and Lee Min Ki, because they are adorable together. It’s also just a fun rom-com to watch when you have a free moment. Sometimes its fun to watch something that you don’t have to invest a lot into, and this is the movie.

Read more for a more in-depth spoiler filled review...

Coming off of a binge of Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food and an accidental start of a re-watch of Because This is my First Life (I can’t help it, that show is just so good!), I knew when I was searching through the movies list on DramaFever and saw Spellbound that I was going to have to add it to my watch list. I’m really glad I did, because the movie was cute and a great way to spend my Friday afternoon. I really love the two leads, and it was fun being able to see them in roles so drastically different than the shows that I had watched recently with them, it made the movie more enjoyable.

The movie itself isn’t the best, but in that way that it’s still enjoyable. It wasn’t horrible by any means, it just wasn’t something I would say has the best writing or run to tell people. It’s one of those romantic comedies that you see while you’re scrolling through TV guide on the weekend and you end up stopping to watch and stay for the end.

There were some parts of the movie that jumped around too much, in an effort to get everything they wanted out of the story in the movie’s timeline. This made the main storyline of why Yeo Ri’s character was so actively pursued by the ghost of her dead friend feel rushed and not thought out. I wanted more from the storyline, especially because the entire time I kept on questioning why she was so mad and not more mad at say the paramedic who first responded, or the bus driver. When we finally got the explanation it just didn't live up to a ghost so bent on destroying this girl’s life to the point of actively trying to kill the person she loves.

There was also a lot of question about the fact that despite the title, and what they implied in every synopsis I read, everyone could see the ghosts - not just her. I thought going in that it was supposed to be a special thing for her, and then eventually Jo Goo’s character comes to be able to (maybe because of being a magician or maybe ghosts make themselves known to specific people). That aspect of the plot just didn’t make sense, and was a little weird.

I really wish that we had more time to spend with the relationship between Jo Goo and Yeo Ri. What was shown was so great, and I loved it (the ending when he’s telling her that he’s scared but then what she must be going through is even worse, ugh!). It just was so rushed from their first meeting, to him adorably trying to find her a boyfriend, to him actually falling in love with her despite of the fact that everyone around her had been effected negatively being close with her because of the ghost. I think this movie would have been better as a episodic drama, so that those story lines really could develop in more than just a two hour block.

And speaking of other relationships, the relationship between her friend and the writer was really sweet. I wanted more from that as well, there just wasn’t time to add that. I liked the banter they had, and the self aware dialogue they have about what makes a relationship in dramas. It was a lot of fun, and even though the three really spent most of their friendship on the phone they played off each other really well.

If you’ve seen the movie, what did you think of it? I’m sure I’m missing more, lets discuss it in the comments.