CYRANO AGENCY: THE DATING GURU (2011)

In Korean with English & Chinese Subtitles
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Kim Hyun-seok
Cast: Uhm Tae-woong, Rhee Min-jung, Choi Daniel, Park Shin-hye
RunTime: 1 hr 58 mins
Released By: Shaw & Clover Films & Homerun Asia
Rating: PG
Official Website:

Opening Day: 24 March 2011

Synopsis: Named after the famous French drama ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ by Edmond Rostand, Cyrano Agency offers services for people who lack dating skills. Much like a film production set, the dating agents create backdrops to help their clients to win the love of the dreams. So the agency prospers with clients who just don’t have a clue to win a person’s heart, true to their motto, “In the shadows, out of the spotlight”.

Sang-yong, a very successful fund manager, perfect in every way but a flop at relationships, becomes their new client. But when Byung-hun, the head of agency, sees his new client’s target, he falls in great dilemma.

Movie Review:

There is a formula that romantic comedies stick to. And this one follows it, but also offers a few laugh out loud moments that are quite original. But then, they only happen sporadically throughout this otherwise unmemorable movie, which is unfortunately drawn out by long dry spells of unconvincing, over-the-top and contrived drama.

Granted, the premise is interesting: a team of goofball matchmakers work surreptitiously to turn strangers into couples. But as with most comedies, the premise is strained to such effect that is not credible that it becomes silly. Take for an instance, the crew go to extremes to orchestrate fake rain outside of a cafe where the woman they are targetting to bewitch works. This is done so to conjure a romantic ambiance. But then, is it even possible to bribe that many passers-by to hole umbrellas? Are they extras? I guess the audience is supposed to suspend all disbelief, as it is supposed to be light-hearted, meaning light on the brain.

Gripes about the over-the-top scenes aside, you should take to the good-looking cast and hide the above misgivings under the theatre seat. For women who like their guys rough on the edge but tender at the core, there's brusque hunk Min-yeong (Park Sin-hye). And for those who like theirs lanky, geeky and deeply apologetic, there's pushover financial consultant Sang Yong
(Daniel Choi).

And with these two delectable guys, there has to be two worthy foils, who come in the elusive squinty-eyed Hee-joong (Lee Min-jeong) and petite doe-eyed Min-yeong (Park Shin-hye). So depending on your taste, you can indulge in your kind of eye-candy.

But having said all that, if you are a serious cinephile, it's hard to take to this movie seriously. Apart from a nifty twist at the end that plays sly reference to the Cyrano De Bergerac legend, the rest is mostly a humdrum affair.

But if you are looking for a harmless movie that is not heavy with metaphors to impress your easy-to-please date, look no further.

Movie Rating:



(Passable entertainment if your brain is clogged)

Review by Adrian Sim