Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
This Korean romance was cute and fluffy until all the silly misunderstandings in episode six ruined it all. Okay, maybe “ruin” is too harsh a word, but it was entertaining until a point, and then it wasn’t.
Directed by Hwang Kyu Il, 2023 Korean romance “Bon Appetit” stars Yoo Jung Hun as overworked marketing manager Doo Hoon, who survives his days with convenience store food, however, warm meals make their way to his life when chef Lee Yoon Soo (Lee Ki Taek) moves next door. As the two share meals, they grow closer, viewers learn they attended the same university and Lee Yoon Soo has quite the crush on his neighbor.
There isn’t much of a plot in this eight-episode series, but the banter between the leads and Doo Hoon’s office shenanigans make the first half a relaxed, laid-back watch. Lee Ki Taek is charming as chef Lee Yoon Soo, who makes a lot of interesting dishes through the runtime and struggles to run a small restaurant all by himself. Yoon Seo Bin who was last seen in “Roommates of Poongduck 304”, has a small cameo as a part-timer in a nearby food-joint and his character sometimes helps Lee Yoon Soo out. Actor Yoo Jang Hee plays supporting character Park Sang Woo, a new intern at Doo Hoon’s office, who was more interesting than the leads due to his straightforward personality.
The cinematography is warm and lends a very domestic tone to the tale, despite the bulk of the story unfolding at Doo Hoon’s office, outdoors, or during university flashbacks. Food is a key ingredient in “Bon Appetit” and foreign viewers get to know about different kinds of fascinating Korean dishes and drinks. The romantic sub-plot however needed a lot more work. Despite the fact that the protagonists are working professionals in their late 20s, the plot relies on school-level conflicts to push the story forward in the last few episodes.
If you are looking for a simple food-based romance, “Bon Appetit” might make for a decent pick to watch on the weekend. Rating: 6 on 10.
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