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[Funcurve Review] "Oh My Venus"

Love Works Out

"Oh My Venus" is an upbeat romantic comedy with an endearing lead couple, and an even more lovable supporting cast. The premise of the drama is as mundane as it can get – chubby, sassy, newly dumped lawyer Kang Joo-eun (Shin Min-a) wants to lose weight. And a mysterious fitness trainer Kim Yeong-ho (So Ji-sub) with a soft spot for people in 'trouble' is going to help her. Yet despite such a simple and silly topic, "Oh My Venus" brings more emotional depth to its characters through their heart-wrenching backstories and daily struggles than most melodramas do, all the while maintaining a lighthearted, sweet atmosphere.

"So much charm and swoon are packed into one drama".

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In the world of "Oh My Venus", the most glamorous characters all seem to have one thing in common - a painful past. Whether it's the chic lawyer who was once overweight and ridiculed, or the fighting champion who was abandoned as a child, or the chaebol who spent his entire life combating a rare disease, we learn to sympathize with them quickly and wholeheartedly. These characters humanize the drama such that even the most extraordinary ones seem ordinary and relatable.

But that's not to say that the drama was overly sappy. In fact, "Oh My Venus" was at its best with its cutesy moments, which seemed to never end. From the maknae manager, Kim Ji-woong (Henry), who constantly switches between English and Korean in the most adorable manner, to the dimple kiss exchanges by our lead couple, so much charm and swoon are packed into one drama.

Episodes 1-3 Review

The introduction of characters is done stylishly and without hassle. By the end of the first episodes, we're fully acquainted with all of our main characters. We start with a look at our leading lady Joo-eun's teenage years and immediately move to her adulthood where she is no longer as slim and beautiful as she used to be. For a brief moment, I felt sorry for Joo-eun who is clearly in a rut in all aspects of her life - her unrewarding busy work life, her poor eating and sleeping habits, and the obvious lack of fire in her 15-year-long relationship with her high school sweetheart Im Woo-sik (Jung Gyu-woon).

But I felt better when the drama does a good job of showing that her upright, straightforward personality is still the same through her internal thoughts that were frequently shared with us. From the mature way she handled her break up with Woo-sik, we're also able to see that she is a strong woman.

The incident that brings our leads together is as hilarious as it is embarrassing, and I can't help but cringe when Yeong-ho lectures Joo-eun about her health. Meanwhile, Yeong-ho is mysterious enough that he wants to hide his real identity and from his family for unknown reasons. So, along with his lackeys fighter Jang Joon-seong (Sung Hoon) and manager Ji-woong, they trick Joo-eun into believing that Ji-woong is the world-famous personal trainer, John Kim. And so, Joo-eun starts her physical training and our story officially kicks into gear.

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Funcurve is a new kind of reviews site. Their reviews help readers visualize the ups and downs of a drama from start to finish with an impression graph. Read more Korean drama reviews at funcurve.com.

 

 

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