"Drama Special - Funny Woman"

Eun-hee (played byMoon Ji-in) is a woman who dreams of being a comedienne- specifically, she's already working backstage at a national comedy TV program, so for Eun-hee it's really just a matter of finally getting the chance to run a skit out front. In service to this point, Eun-hee ends up making a rather bizarre request to judge Jeong-woo (played byKim Ji-hoon-I). Jeong-woo hates fun, though, and persists in mocking Eun-hee using his most neutral tone of voice.

"Drama Special - Funny Woman" excels mainly on the strength of the comedic chemistry between its two leads.Kim Ji-hoon-Iin particular has rather mastered the visage here of a man who won't let himself laugh, mainly because it's his job not to laugh.Moon Ji-inis no slouch either- Eun-hee is consistently funny enough to be amusing, while not so funny as to get Jeong-woo to seriously lower his guard.

Interestingly, it's actually not Eun-hee's sense of humor that wins Jeong-woo over so much as her persistence. Jeong-woo states, again and again, that Eun-hee's request is really stupid and shameful but she simply will not give up on it. This puts Jeong-woo in a rather reflective mode about the purpose of his own life. While Jeong-woo may be handsome, financially secure, and datable, he's never really had any ambition more impressive than just being able to use his position of authority to tell other people to live similarly emotionless lives.

The love story ends up being a rather touching one, in part because it has very little to do with romance. There are people who have dreams and the ones who don't, and the former group is a lot more jazzed to go through life. But there's still hope for the boring ones who don't dream- they can find, and support someone whose sheer passion and persistence is enough to be inspiring. Jeong-woo ultimately decides that he doesn't need stability in a partner- Jeong-woo himself is already stable, and what's the point of being prepared for anything if nothing unexpected ever happens?

This emotional heart, coupled with an excellent supporting cast, works to make "Drama Special - Funny Woman" a lot of fun. It's one of the best explorations of the opposites-attract dynamic that I've ever seen, because Eun-hee and Jeong-woo are able to see in each other certain essential personality traits that they themselves lack. It's quite telling that the big climax is not actually about their relationship but rather the direction of Eun-hee's career. Because Eun-hee is a comedienne- this is the essence of her being. If not for that, how else can she be loved?

Review by William Schwartz

"Drama Special - Funny Woman" is directed byKim Hyoung-seok, written by Lee Jeong-min-Iand featuresKim Ji-hoon-I,Moon Ji-in,Lee Do-yeonandHong Yoon-hwa.