“I’ll do it. Best New Artist”

Having the well-deserved reputation for being one of the world’s leading countries for the booming plastic surgery industry, here is a musical comedy that addresses the issues head on. The K-Pop industry’s obsession with the perfect cookie-cutter looks, and the lengths some people would go to achieve their dreams serve as the starting point for “200 Pounds Beauty”. These are themes that remain very much relevant even to this day, more than a decade after the film’s release. The harsh reality behind the glitz and glamour of show business is examined, but it never forgets to have some slapstick fun along the way, backed by some killer soundtrack.

Kang Han Na (Kim Ah Joong) is the titular 200-pound heroine, providing the main vocals behind the scenes for pop sensation Ammy (Ji Seo Yun) who has the looks but not the talent required to make it big as a singer. Han Na is the record company’s best kept secret, and she harbours some secret feelings of her own, pining after the handsome music producer Han Sang Joon (Joo Jin Mo). He is also the only one who treats her with any level of decency whereas to everyone else, she is invisible. After a particularly cruel prank by her colleague and an unsuccessful suicide attempt, she decides to take control of her life, and undergoes the most unrecognisable transformation, with tonnes of help from a plastic surgeon.

Embracing her new looks and identity as newcomer Korean-American artist “Jenny”, she starts pursuing her own career in the music industry. With help from her best friend Park Jung Min (Kim Hyun Sook), she returns to her original place of work, getting close to her crush, hoping to land both him and a record contract in one clean swoop. Hilarity of course ensues as soon as she completes her makeover. Men look and talk to her differently. Her best friend of course does not recognise her initially and there are some close calls that almost expose her true identity.

Launching her into super stardom overnight, similar to her character’s journey, Kim Ah Joong’s debut performance in a leading role is a runaway success. She is a captivating screen presence from the opening scene. She is an endearing bundle of insecurity, so shy and timid in every situation, who slowly begins to come out of her shell more and more by believing in her abilities. But as she is treated to more success, another form of anxiety takes over. The pressure to keep up with her deception starts mounting, and it is at this point the film starts asking the serious question of what it means to give up your identity and lie to yourself and everyone around you. Kim not only capably handles the comedic aspect of the film, but excels even more in the reflective, thought-provoking scenes.

Special mention must also go to the excellent soundtrack, which consists of a combination of Korean interpretations of English songs (Janet Jackson’s “Miss You Much”, Blondie’s “Maria”) as well as endlessly repeatable Korean original songs (“Star”, “Beautiful Girl”). As a film based in the world of music, it is good to listen to a playlist it can confidently rely on.

The only real hiccup comes in the film’s final few developments. In an attempt to create an easy happy ending for everyone involved, it forces an awkwardly contrived and overlong finale that instead ends up giving off mixed messages. It provides frustratingly oversimplified answers to the complex, intriguing questions that are posed throughout the running time. It works on a feel-good level for sure, but is nowhere near as satisfying as it could have been.