Love Untangled is the act of opening up about what’s on your mind. The nervous thrill of finally saying what you couldn’t for various reasons is an experience everyone has at some point in their life. In our school days, a confession to a crush felt like a major event that could change the course of our lives. It could be the start of a romantic relationship straight out of a drama, or it could become an epic moment of personal history you’d rather forget.
Set in Busan in 1998, Love Untangled tells the story of Se-ri (played by Shin Eun-soo), a 19-year-old girl who is preparing for a life-altering confession. She hatches a plan to straighten her notoriously frizzy hair, a source of major insecurity, and in the process, she gets tangled up with Yoon-seok (played by Gong Myoung), a new student from Seoul. Together, they create unforgettable high school memories filled with youthful excitement.
The film’s greatest strength is its harmless nature. While there are characters who playfully bicker and compete over their crushes, it never escalates beyond a cute squabble. There are no major villains or characters that cause anger or discomfort. By minimizing dramatic and unpleasant elements, the film allows you to simply relax and enjoy the story. The bright, refreshing color palette also adds to the movie’s energy, making it a visually pleasant experience. It’s a film that offers a healing escape to the clear and innocent days of high school.
Love Untangled revisits the high school experience, focusing on the simple, everyday moments and youthful worries that are universally relatable. It’s packed with details that will trigger your own memories: the ringing of the school bell, lunch break conversations, the subtle tension during dodgeball, and the anxiety of grades being revealed. The film invites viewers on a nostalgic trip back in time.
For those who lived through the 1990s, the film holds even more special meaning. It opens with a scene of golf legend Pak Se-ri’s victory, and the soundtrack is filled with popular music from the ’90s, often called the golden age of pop culture. The film takes you on a fun auditory journey with hit songs like S.E.S.’s debut song ‘I’m Your Girl,’ ZaZa’s ‘In the Bus,’ and Haebaragi’s ‘With Love.’
The movie also captures the retro fashion and hairstyles of the era, offering a feast for the eyes. To top it all off, the film includes a nostalgic reference to folded paper cranes (hak-al), an iconic symbol of confessions from that time, which will make you feel fully immersed in the past.
It’s also interesting to see how this story from over 20 years ago is reinterpreted by today’s young actors. Gong Myoung, who is known for his first-love roles, perfectly captures the innocence of the era, embodying the kind of boy who was popular back then. Meanwhile, rookie actors like Shin Eun-soo, Cha Woo-min, and Yoon Sang-hyun bring the high school experience to life with their authentic performances.
Without a lot of dramatic tension, the film could have felt bland, but the charming and lively performances of the cast keep it consistently entertaining. Their sitcom-like high school antics are heartwarming and their cute squabbles will keep you smiling. Shin Eun-soo, in particular, shines in her role, portraying a character with frizzy hair who also speaks with a Busan accent, showing off her versatile acting skills.
Love Untangled is a romantic film filled with high school memories, emotional confessions, and a refreshing visual style. As a rare and original film in today’s market, it feels fresh and new. Of course, it’s not without its flaws. The lack of dramatic tension and a somewhat familiar storyline are undeniable. Also, compared to other first-love films, like those from Taiwan, it doesn’t have the same level of emotional depth. Despite this, it has an undeniable feel-good charm that makes it easy to recommend. The fact that it’s an easy and comfortable watch on an OTT platform is another big plus.
As September continues to bring the heat, this is the perfect movie to watch if you’re looking for something cool and refreshing.
Sources: 다음 – TV리포트
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