Korean Movie Night: The Princess and the Matchmaker 궁합 (2018) Korean

Shim Eun Kyung, Lee Seung Gi, Kim Sang Kyung, Yeon Woo Jin, Kang Min Hyuk, Choi Woo Shik, Jo Bok Rae

Movie rating: 8/10     Neck score: A+

Lizabreff loves Seung Gi. Well, so do I. I also love Shim Eun Kyung and Choi Woo Shik. Really, the entire cast. So we were waiting for this one to become available so we could watch it. Then we waited to long to get it for free and had to rent it anyway, but whatever. It was worth it. Thanks, Google Play.

Anyway, this was a lot different then the previews led us to believe, and that is not a bad thing. It was just different. Maybe it is because we're so used to mischievous butt headed Seung Gi that we all love (think Son Oh Gong from Hwayugi, or his roles in Gumiho or King 2 Hearts). We were all assuming that he would be a mischievous matchmaker con-artist who was using the princess's marriage to make money or advance. We weren't expecting a straight-arrowed good boy Seung Gi who had a blind little Poo Butt to protect at home. It was interesting and nice.

Also, it says that it is also starring Yeon Woo Jin, Kang Min Hyuk, and Choi Woo Shik, but they are special appearances at best. Extended cameos? Since they are the candidates for the princess's hand. I wanted to see at little more of my boys, but also, they were obviously not the guy in this romance, so you can expect the reasons why they are not the guy to be obvious. After all this is a movie with limited time. However, they surprised me as to how much they would not be the guy. Wow. (Choi Woo Shik! Why do you do this to me, my angel?) But the first candidate she meets is the best. He did such a good job. Props to him. Woot.

Shim Eun Kyung is fabulous. I love her. She does awkward like it's meant to be. Realistically and so relateable. I was rooting for her the whole time. She made her role as the unlucky princess so perfect.   guess that made what was happening to her, because of the whole energy compatibility thing, so awful. Made you hate a couple of people... or a lot of them. But also love the good ones, the ones who are actually aware and help her, etc.

So while it wasn't what I expected, it wasn't a light and fluffy romcom, it was really good. It was much deeper than I thought it would be, and it raised some real issues of belief, and what it means to be a woman back then, privilege, etc. It was about ethics and compassion, as well as being funny and a romance. But in a real way, even if it were still highly improbable for the time period and idealistic, etc. It was still good and I appreciated it.