“Shhh…I’m your grandmother”

Stubborn, straight-talking and opinionated, Oh Mal Soon (Na Moon Hee) is a granny in her seventies who struggles to live under the same roof as her son Hyun Chul (Sung Dong Il) and his family, particularly butting heads with her daughter-in-law. When events come to a head, Mal Soon faces the prospect of being moved to a nursing home away from her family. Feeling deflated and generally unmotivated by how little she is appreciated by those around her she stumbles across a photo studio. Thinking she should at least get a portrait ready for her impending funeral, she steps in, readying herself for the last picture.

After the flash however, events take a strange turn. She emerges from the studio fifty years younger (now as Shim Eun Kyung). At first terrified and at a loss for what to do with her new found youth, she quickly adapts to living her second chance at life, jumping on the opportunities she had to forego when she was growing up, as a part of the sacrifice she had to make as a single mother. She adopts a new identity of “Audrey” (inspired by her favourite actress Audrey Hepburn), along with a new haircut, wardrobe and accommodation, and ends up embarking on a musical career she never had the chance to experience.

The plot takes plenty of time to flex its comedic muscles. First we deal with the shock factor of it all, a period full of discoveries as Audrey comes to terms with the changes in her physical appearance. What also lasts, is how whenever the seventy-something year-old Mal Soon’s temperament inevitably presents itself whilst looking like the twenty-something year-old Audrey. Her change is something that is quite easily forgotten by the protagonist, and hilarity naturally follows.

What “Miss Granny” also excels in is the portrayal of Audrey’s pursuit of her own career. Gifted with a singing voice and a unique stage presence, her talent does not go unnoticed for long. Soon she starts to perform in front of larger crowds, and one of the many unique spins the film uses is the endlessly enjoyable soundtrack. Particular highlight is “One More Time”, an uplifting, energetic number that adds even more impact as a life-affirming song.

Na Moon Hee, being the legendary screen veteran that she is, makes a moving contribution despite her relatively short appearance. However this is Shim Eun Kyung’s show through and through, and she owns every minute of it. She is having to play the role of a grandmother full of wisdom and regrets “trapped” in a younger body, and Shim is an entirely convincing lead. How effortlessly she plays the transition from awkwardly adorable, to a far more confident songstress in her own right, is an outstanding achievement, and she more than holds the attention of the audience throughout the film’s running time.

The final act wisely stays away from being one hundred per cent fun and games. The rest of the family’s search for Mal Soon gains traction, and her secret does not stay buried forever. There comes a point where she is faced yet again with another choice to make. A heart to heart exchange between her and her son is a brief yet tear-jerking moment, beautifully played by Shim and Sung Dong Il. It has a deceptively simple premise, but ends up having a lot of plot strands to juggle with mixed genres. Despite this it never feels over-stuffed and consistently keeps up a healthy pace. A feel-good comedy with all the right ingredients and some surprisingly moving twists, it is no wonder this became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.