In this blog post, we’ll explore ‘Sweet and Deadly Lovers’—a series that masterfully blends romantic comedy and thriller based on the familiar theme of love—to examine the characteristics of the romantic comedy genre, the unique love story between Daewoo and Mina, and the entertainment value that this sweet yet deadly narrative offers audiences.
A Romantic Comedy for the Season of Love
From memories of innocent childhood love to the joys and sorrows of first love, and stories of love beginning anew after divorce—everyone thinks about and longs for these different love stories around this time of year. Indeed, the theme of “love” tends to stir everyone’s hearts in spring, when warm sunshine and a cool breeze fill the air. Falling for someone and starting a romance with a clumsy yet courageous confession like, “Would you like to go see a movie with me?” brings a flutter of excitement to everyone’s heart.
In spring—a season when love seems to blossom while watching movies together—it’s common to see singles moved to tears by the films released just in time for the season, while couples proudly display their affection. Moreover, in weather that’s perfect for love to blossom, a romantic comedy with a cheerful and lively story is far more fitting than a gloomy, heart-wrenching melodrama. The recently released film ‘Sweet and Deadly Lovers’ has made everyone laugh and cry this spring—the season of love—and has topped the box office for two consecutive weeks.
Why do so many people enjoy watching romantic comedies? We’ll explore which elements of these films attract such positive reviews and captivate audiences.
A Sweet Yet Thrilling Romantic Comedy
Movie genres are diverse, ranging from thrillers and film noir to melodramas and romantic comedies. The classification of film genres is not strictly defined but depends on the consumer preferences of the audience. While films possess commercial characteristics, they are also regarded as works of art; genre films each convey specific themes and share certain commonalities in subject matter, formal characteristics, visual treatment, and modes of expression.
In South Korea, the genre that is both the most successful at the box office and the most prone to failure is likely the romantic comedy. A fusion of “romance” and “comedy,” the romantic comedy is a film that portrays a love story that, in reality, is thought to be impossible due to various constraints. The romantic comedy—with its bittersweet charm that audiences crave—is a genre that is both simple and capable of resonating deeply with viewers.
The origins of the romantic comedy genre can be traced back to screwball comedies, which were considered progressive in the sense that they reflected reality. Thomas Schatz, author of ‘The Structure of Hollywood Genres’, discusses this genre and points out three key differences in the romantic struggles between men and women: the fundamental gender differences between men and women; the clash of values stemming from personality differences between the male and female leads; and the story of class differences that are realistically contradictory.
In the course of life, without these three elements—meeting, dating, and breaking up—what joy would people find in living? The stereotypical romantic comedy storyline involves a man and a woman meeting, bickering back and forth, gradually developing a love-hate relationship, and eventually falling in love when struck by Cupid’s arrow. Why do audiences go wild for such a childish plot and seek out the romantic comedy genre? It is precisely because it contains idealized love stories that are both closely tied to our reality and yet detached from it. In other words, the romantic comedy genre fosters a sense of intimacy between the audience and the film.
The comedic mishaps that occur as the couple faces obstacles to their love—as they race toward a happy ending—bring laughter to the audience. Furthermore, these bittersweet love stories—where a relationship seems on the verge of happening yet might not—also contain lyrical elements that touch the audience’s hearts.
We also identify with the characters on screen or see reflections of our current selves in them. The protagonists portray love stories featuring handsome men and beautiful women—the ideal types we envision—or relationships that are hard to find in reality, thereby offering audiences an opportunity to fulfill certain desires. One could say that the reason we are so enthusiastic about the protagonists of romantic comedies is an expression of our intense longing for romance, especially if we are currently single. I suspect that many people—not just singles, but also couples in relationships—laugh and cry in the theater because it offers them a chance to reaffirm their own way of loving.
Hwang Dae-woo and the Fierce Mina
Hwang Dae-woo (Park Yong-woo), an English literature lecturer in his early 30s, is a cynical man who—just like his nickname “King Prawn”—has never even had a kiss despite his age. He finds women who obsess over blood types or zodiac signs childish, and he hates ignorant women more than anything in the world. However, one day, after injuring his back while moving a bed, he unexpectedly finds himself overcome by loneliness. He is a man with a timid personality and a side that is both cynical and caring.
On the other hand, there’s Lee Mi-na, a woman with a unique aura who moves into the apartment below Hwang Dae-woo’s. Her real name is Lee Mi-ja, and she is an intellectual, elegant-looking woman in her late 20s who claims to be studying to go to Italy. However, her flaw is that she’s a female lead with a chilling aura—one who can dispatch an ex-boyfriend with a knife without batting an eye.
Since the primary audience for romantic comedies consists of teenagers and people in their 20s, the films create sweet yet bittersweet characters not through outstanding looks or sexual appeal, but through the protagonists’ personalities, sense of humor, and pursuit of pure love—elements with which the audience can easily relate.
However, unlike the typical quirky and lively couples we’ve come to expect from conventional romantic comedies, the couple formed by Dae-woo and Mi-na brings a fresh twist to the genre. As a film in the unique genre of “romantic thriller,” it masterfully blends the sweet romance embodied by the male lead, Hwang Dae-woo, with the gripping suspense embodied by the female lead, Lee Mi-na, making their unique and fresh characters all the more appealing.
Their first encounter is anything but romantic. Daewoo, a confirmed bachelor who has never dated anyone despite being over thirty, delivers Mina’s refrigerator to her apartment—replacing the moving men—despite his back pain. While browsing through her art books and Kandinsky’s artwork, Mina mistakes him for a strange person. This is how their relationship began.
Furthermore, Dae-woo—eager to start a relationship—surprises Mina by shouting a cute yet absurd confession from the landing outside her studio apartment with the help of a friend: “Um… would you like to go see a movie with me tomorrow?” Despite this, Mina accepts his clumsy invitation. Despite Daewoo’s awkward expressions and clumsy behavior as a first-time lover, Mina gives him the joy of his first kiss and the thrill of dating, and their passionate romance begins.
A Sweet Yet Intense Romance
Like other couples in a relationship, Daewoo and Mina grow closer through arguments and reconciliations. But there are always secrets in a relationship. At first, Daewoo thought Mina was too intelligent, lovely, and sweet—a woman far too good for him—but he begins to find her increasingly suspicious.
It seemed strange that she lived with a friend (Jo Eun-ji) who looked like she’d just stepped out of an entertainment district, and that men who looked like thugs were coming in and out of her house. On nights when she went out carrying a heavy suitcase, she’d come home covered in dirt, which only fueled Daewoo’s suspicions. During a dinner with friends, it was revealed that Mina—who claimed her hobby was reading and that she was majoring in art—didn’t even know the famous Dostoevsky novel ‘Crime and Punishment’. His suspicions grew even further when it came to light that she didn’t even know whether the Mondrian hanging in her home was the name of the artist or the title of a book.
Furthermore, when it was revealed that her real name was “Lee Mi-ja” rather than “Lee Mina,” and the truth behind the kimchi refrigerator in Mina’s kitchen came to light, Dae-woo learned of Mina’s dark past involving murder. His tender romance, which began at the age of thirty, is in constant conflict with Mina’s true identity. The social status conflict seen in romantic comedies of the past is easily recognizable in ‘Sweet, Deadly Lovers’ as well, through the contrast between Daewoo’s identity as an English literature instructor and Mina’s as a convicted murderer.
Daewoo’s remark in the elevator—“If it had been just one or two people, I would have tried to understand”—can be interpreted as a cry of anguish over the fact that his sweet romance is at odds with Mina’s deadly identity.
A Sweet Yet Deadly Ending
When Mina asks Daewoo why he didn’t report her, he replies, “How can I report someone I love?” but they decide not to date anymore, and the two part ways. Whenever news reports on TV mention a body found buried in the mountains, Daewoo thinks of Mina and misses her.
Two years later, Daewoo and Mina run into each other by chance in Singapore. Delighted to see one another, they exchange light-hearted jokes and ask after each other’s well-being. However, they part ways with a meaningful smile and a kiss. It was a bit disappointing that the film ended on a slightly hollow note rather than with the typical happy ending we often find in romantic comedies.
A film that blends laughter and love
A romantic comedy—a fusion of romance and comedy—is a film genre that portrays realistic or idealized love stories from our daily lives. Yet, even within this seemingly predictable genre, such films continue to garner significant love and support from audiences. Going beyond simply being lighthearted and entertaining, these films allow audiences to connect with the story on some level and provide an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of love in real life.
“Sweet, Deadly Lovers” is a unique romantic comedy-thriller that masterfully blends Hwang Dae-woo’s sweet and comical performance and dialogue with the thriller elements surrounding Mina’s deadly secret, painting a vivid picture of their love story. A well-crafted plot accompanied by witty dialogue, coupled with the actors’ nuanced performances that bring out the characters’ distinct traits. “Sweet, Deadly Lovers” boldly proves a truth that is extremely simple yet difficult to put into practice: only when a film remains faithful to these two fundamentals—plot and character—can the foundation for a truly good movie be laid.
I believe a movie should be something you can watch, laugh at, cry over, and enjoy—without having to analyze it or overthink it. In this regard, ‘Sweet and Deadly Lovers’ is beloved by many audiences as a unique romantic thriller. The reason watching this film naturally makes you think that romance is worth experiencing is that you’ve gotten a taste of the sweet and deadly allure of love.
