I couldn't say if it is appropriate to label myself a romantic fan, yet I love the concept of comedy and romance altogether in a story. Although this concept can get a little cheesy sometimes, the perfect combination of its dual-natured genres usually empowers the positive side of a film.
Well, lately, I just watched a romance-comedy film, and I definitely could say that I enjoyed the elements and making of it. It made me excited, sad, and laughing despite it not being my all-time favorite type of film, like social thrillers. I guess most curious teenagers, if not all, are a fan of romance-comedy. At this age, some tend to get interested in how social bonds and romantic relationships work, and with a comical nature of making, it can make the film more youth-ly and fun to watch.
The movie I'll be reviewing in this post is Falling in Love at First Kiss, based on the Japanese comics of Itazura na Kiss and made possible by the adaptation of Frankie Chen. In Google audience summary, it has a rating of 4.8 over 5 and is deemed to be one of the best adaptations of the said comics.
About the Plot and my Initial Perspective of it
The movie opens with the scene where Yuan Xiangqin, a regular schoolgirl from the F class, meets Jiang Zhishu, the top-performing student from the A-class, at a somewhat cliché coincidence. I admit that the writing could have made in a different beginning, but what makes that scene substantial is the showcase of the main characters in a comical way. It introduces the characters to the archetypes that they are in.
How does the beginning become seemingly important? Here:
Yuan Xiangqin walks past Jiang Zhishu, and she trips into the staircase, putting her life at risk and taking along Zhishu's phone. With a highly functional mind, Zhishu, on the other hand, tries to figure out how to save her.
Obviously, with this scene, audiences can see a foolish girl and a smart boy. The writers placed them into an exciting motion, arousing the viewers' curiosity of how much more will happen with their varied personalities as poles of one another.
Picture 1 (source: Falling in Love at First Kiss): The illustration of physics in this scene is what the producers want to show as the allegedly genius mind of Zhishu. He calculates the fall of Yuan Xiangqin.
Like I had said, they are poles of one another.
Yuan Xiangqin is a foolish girl from class F who relies on her natural response as a person. Thus, to save herself, she grabs Zhishu's uniform. After that action of hers, their lips unexpectedly meet.
Picture 2 (source: Falling in Love at First Kiss): Obviously, this scene is where the movie's title is derived from-- "Falling in Love at First Kiss", but it is unclear if Zhishu did fall in love at this moment.
That kiss embarks an effect on Yuang Xiangqin. Then, she finds out that Zhishu, the guy she kissed, is someone from class A with ongoing projects in Boston.
For over two years, Yuan Xiangqin finds herself fawning over Zhishu through his social media page. Her fawning becomes one of the very components of her character, making her actions (initiatives) an introduction to the movie's comedy side and moving the movie into the potential romantic line.
One day, Yuan Xiangqin develops an idea of confessing her love. However, that didn't turn well because she gets rejected by Zhishu.
Eavesdropping, class A makes fun of Yuan Xiangqin, and when Zhishu leaves her, they quickly gather around her to record her reaction after the failed confession.
From this scene, we, the audiences, can detect the prejudices surrounding the nature of the characters; because, in this type of plot, Yuan Xiangqin, a 'dumb' girl with poor social stance, is seen as misfit to the type of people Zhishu belong to.
Her humiliation is even doubled when she and her father get to be featured into the television after their house collapses.
The unrealistic side of this is the lack of depressing effect on Yuan's side after the severed humiliation.
Maybe, the producers just wanted to create her the female lead who gets shy when bullied and is not affected by peer pressure. Or, they wanted to treat the movie as a romance-comedy alone, thus trying not to amplify the more realistic side of bullying and shame.
Over-all, I can say that Yuan Ziangqin has an entertaining characterization because even her humiliation is a comedy trait than a dilemma element. She is like a cartoon character that you can always laugh over, but her personality catches the vibe of any girl teenager dreaming of romance.
So, what becomes a dilemma for her?
The dilemma comes when she declares to prove herself into everyone that she can fit into the same type of people that Zhishu belong to. To do that, she swears into the crowd that she can get into the "Top 100" list of scorers on the upcoming examination.
The funny thing about this is that Yuan Xiangqin doesn't even know how to study and knows nothing with their lessons, but it didn't become a problem for her because she immediately finds a solution. What could it be?
After the house collapse, Yuan Xiangqin and her father move into the house of a friend. That friend happens to be the father of Zhishu. What the hell? And, like what we could all expect, Yuan Xiangqin and Zhishu find themselves living under the same roof because of unexpected family connections and circumstances.
And this is where Yuang Ziangqin gets her solution— to blackmail Zhishu over something personal, and to get him to teach her for the upcoming examination.
The 'living together part' is actually just a mini-plot within this two-hour movie. The movie has so much to offer as it is based on a lengthy shouju demographic.
Review
The movie takes two hours and more minutes to finish, and the original series has more than sixteen episodes (approximately 24 minutes each) and two seasons. I can say that the events within the movie are squeezed to the point that the producers ignored building the relationships among other characters and missing other favorite romantic scenes of the OG fans.
For example, Zhishu has this brother who insults Yuan Zingqian at their first meeting. Ironically, in this brother's next vital appearance, he seems emotional about Yuan Zingqian leaving. Understandably, they might have developed a bond living together in the same house, yet I hope the producers could have shown how that relationship came to be that soft and emotional.
Picture 7 (source: Falling in Love at First Kiss): Zhishu's brother calls Yuan Ziangqian 'stupid' in different languages.
Picture 8 (source: Falling in Love at First Kiss): Zhishu's brother is emotional about Ziangqian's departure.
Anyway, that's not a great missing piece to the movie's flow. I couldn't blame the producers for catalyzing the minor events. It is hard to fit everything from a lengthy comics book into a limited movie duration, so I understand the point for that.
On the other hand, I truly admire the casting, the gluing of scenes, and the production. This deserves ten stars out of five stars!
The level of comic-like artistry they put into the emphasis of events, is truly admirable. It contributes to the comedy, like dragging someone out of place, editing various elements for resonance, and displaying exaggerated facial expressions.
Aside from the comedy element, the romance built-up is also worth it. When Zhishu and Xiangqin have scenes together, I can't help myself but to shriek. The artists really have that 'chemistry' together! Plus, Darren Wang is such a great actor that he portrays the role differently yet lovingly.
Well, this film is also not all about romance and comedy between high-school-to-college lovers. It features the development of family connection, friendship, and values, especially for the side of Zhishu.
Well, Zhishu is the type of character who puts his father's wishes ahead of his plans. He loves his family so much that he always does the things that make them happy, especially on academics and business.
When Zhishu learns to look for the things that make him happy, the plot quickly revolves into the tag of war between his adult life choices between practicality and passion. This got him into an argument with his father, and eventually, with his future.
Concerned and worried of Zhishu, Ziangqian wants to fit herself into the confused life of him. She tries to cook him delicious foods and helps him in many possible ways she could possibly do. Zhishu, however, turns her down; because he has many distresses to deal with and wants no one to be beside him.
Lin Yun, the actress of Ziangqian, delivered the female protagonist's confusion and worry 'n well. Her acting is so great that you easily empathize with her character. Lol, she deserves an award.
This image looks funny, but before you judge it, watch the movie first. It's really dramatic.
Final Thoughts
With all these thoughts, I recommend the movie to everyone. It's really funny, happy, romantic, and sad. It's a great combo of shounen adapted into live action. Well, that's all. Have a good day, y'all!
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