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You Make Me Dance (Movie) korean drama review
Completed
You Make Me Dance (Movie)
5 people found this review helpful
by DrKay
Aug 10, 2021
Completed
Overall 7.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Red string or red herring?

You make me dance is a story that is as unlikely as its pair- a debt collector and the debitor. It offers nothing new either in its plot or in its characterisation. But it makes us sit through till completion because of how honestly it portrays that unlikely story. Jin Hong Seok is a machine living his monotonous life and Song Shi On is at the prime of his youth full of hopes, dreams and wishes. One seems about done with his life while the other actively wants to begin his. In another world where chance encounters with supposed couples do not happen, these two might have as well lived their lives blissfully unaware of the other's existence. But here they form a strange bond that develops with the help of some even stranger rationale. It's also strangely engaging despite the lack of a strong plot and any actual conflict.

In many ways, the movie is simple minded and that can be refreshing to those who do not want to spend their time dissecting all the layers underneath a character. There are themes of abandonment and midlife crisis but they are not addressed, just mentioned. I wouldn't say any character is well rounded but that is on the story- the characters are molded to fit in. It's an easy watch if we just accept the things the way they roll out and here's the catch- in spite of all its misgivings, the movie is surprisingly acceptable. Not in a "this is ridiculous but it's funny and emotional" kind of way but more along the lines of "yes, it's far from perfect but it's not impossible". That definitely goes in favour of the movie.

Another impressive aspect in this clichéd story is that it doesn't depend on fate, much in contrast to its opening scenes. The leads try and make things happen instead of leaving them up for Fate to chance upon and throw in their way. Whether this was intended or it just unknowingly came to be, it feels good.

The figurative red thread keeps making metaphorical appearances throughout and is well used. I didn't understand what purpose the CEO of Chachacha was supposed to serve, but thankfully her scenes are limited and she is present more to pull the story towards the required ending than to be an actual obstacle. Same goes for Shi On's senior. The final twenty minutes could have been written, edited and presented much better. Everything was building up to that point and it felt as if the balloon just popped all of a sudden without any reason. It was an unsolvable mess of poor writing and poor execution and that was actually the bigger disappointment compared to the wafer thin story line. Music is good even though it doesn't stand out. Cinematography is okay and the performances are convincing. This isn't something I'd fawn over now or later but it's not bad as a one time watch.
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