Possible 'Big' Mistake??

   I’ve waited almost an entire year for the Hong sisters to come out with their newest drama. Just moments after concluding their take on Korean entertainment in Best Love, I was rolling around frantically wondering when their next drama would release. And the writing duo didn’t disappoint; last October they announced that they would be coming out with their eighth drama this year, titled Big. So with 2012 having unequivocally arrived, it pleases me that the Hong sisters have already decided on a cast and a concept. But as always, there’s good news and then there’s bad news. 

 

Good News

   One of the good news is that the drama will star Gong Yoo in his first drama since 2007′s pop culture phenomenon The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince. How is it that this guy hasn’t been in any dramas since Coffee Prince?! Well, he had to complete two years of military service and then returned to star in two films. With five years away from the small screen, it’s hard not to miss his presence right? Gong Yoo will be paired with Lee Min-jung of Boys Over Flowers and Idol star Miss A‘s Suzy. Aren't you guys lucky ha ha. 

Bad News

   The bad news is that the concept of this drama is quite possibly one of the most overused, potentially icky concepts the Hong sisters could possibly use. Not saying it's bad, just.. There's so many out there. The drama’s premise is based off of the 1988 classic film also titled Big starring Tom Hanks in one of his early acclaimed comedies. Tom plays a 12 year-old boy who wakes up one morning in the body of a 30 year-old man due to some mystical wish. Now an adult, he must balance work and friends and figure out his feelings for one of the women he works with. The upcoming Hong sisters remake places an 18 year-old boy into an older man’s body (played by Gong Yoo) and follow how his youthfulness makes the man’s fiance fall back in love with him.

   "You're saying that the next Hong sisters drama is inspired from an old 80s flick?! The movie that suffers from a long train of crappy remakes?" "Don't tell me that the drama that Gong Yoo will make a comeback with will sit on the mantle next to other rehashes like that 13 Going on 30 movie?" You may be saying that to yourself but nevertheless, it’s going to take a whole lot of convincing and a miracle for me to get excited about this concept. The body swapping theme is nothing new neither to American films nor Korean dramas. Don't you agree?

    No matter how universal the concept has become, the odd factor is something that any half-cognizant viewer just won’t be able to swallow comfortably: an 18 year-old boy enters the body of a 30 year-old man, hijacks his life, falls in love with a much older woman, and then leaves the body to take care of the mess? Let’s not forget that the idea that the thirtysomething year-old woman isn’t aware that she’s crushing on a young man 12+ years younger than her! It’s just plain weird. Yeah, Tom Hanks did it. But, hey, it was weird back then too.

     I’m not being unreasonably harsh, am I? Either way, when it comes to unique concepts, The Hong sisters are some of the best in the business. Best Love and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho are testament to that. In fact, it is because I have so much admiration for their work in the past that I will give Big a warm welcome on my computer. While the inspiration for the drama may fall flat, the writing will not. It will also be sheer pleasure to watch Gong Yoo take on the challenge of acting like a boy who’s acting like a man while in another person’s body. Ha ha! The potential for comedy is abundant, even under the constraints of an overused theme.

       I don’t know about this one. One thing’s for sure though: if I give up on this one, I can always go back and rebuild my faith by watching My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. Hopefully The Hong Sisters won't let me down and I hope at least some of you enjoy it.