“No matter how hard life gets, never regret anything that made you smile.” – Jung Da Jung
18 again is a remake of the movie 17 Again which stars Zac Efron and Matthew Perry. This is one of my favorite Zac Efron Movies of all time! This had brought me to tears and had moved me in so many ways that no matter how many times I watched this it would always give me a pinch on my heart.
Story
They say the original is always the best but 18 Again would surely hook you up from start to finish. The series had given so much depth to each character in 17 again. It would surely give you reasons why marriage is a constant commitment of love, responsibility, communication and respect and so much more, it also tackles the issue of the aftermath of divorce (which I feel like it's really a sensitive topic to go through), the depth of parents (to understand situations where they are coming from), the depth of children (just like the parents to understand situations where they are coming from) and the value of friendship and of course love.
I really love the series so much that it made my heart tear all over again. I wouldn't compare the movie versus the series because obviously, the series had depths of understanding why characters have gone to a phase such as those and it brings us back to our Asian Family traditions while the movie had also the same aspect/ attack in life, love for family, home and parents love and of course the funny quirks in the movie was also present in the series.
Characters
Kim Haneul is Jung Da Jung
Ommeoni! I find Kim Haneul very pretty and very cute in the series. She gave me an invisible tap on the back like if you want something do it, if you really want it, do it! Don't ever let them pull you down just because you are a woman. But instead, be a woman that everyone is curious of because you can pull off whatever you want to do in life. You are not a scary woman but a woman with dreams and joy.
Yoon Sang Hyun is Hong Dae Yong (Older Version)
Attorney Cha! HAahahha.... Yoon Sang Hyun is always Mr. Cha for me, because almost all of the characters he played his name is Cha well not all. HAHAHA... His character really suits him as the older version of Hong Dae Yong. His OG funny commentaries, to his quirky jokes on the sides made him really the dad who really works hard for his family but also had something sad ruling in his heart.
Lee Do Hyun is Hong Dae Yong (younger version) and Ko Woo Young
Do Hyun is such a PAPANG! I think whenever I will see him, I will always be reminded by him as a young dad who really loves his children. The way he talks to them, the way he gets angry, the way he feels frustrated, I have felt those emotions as if it was really his.
Lee Mi Do as Cho AeRin
The best friend of all time! Lee Mi Do always reminded me of the best friend who's always going to be there for you no matter what. Her funny antics had caught me so much that whenever I see her, I know she's going to do something good or funny! She's my fave character in this series!
Roh Jyeon Eui is Hong Shi Ah and Rye Un as Hong Shi Woo
The children of Hong Dae Yong. Hong Shi Ah is his older twin daughter whose pretty popular in school and loves scheming her dad in order to give her money. She might have this rebellious aura and works at the convenience store but she really loves and care for her family and somehow blame herself for the crumbling relationship her parents are going through.
Hong Shi Woo is the opposite of his sister, despite his handsome looks and childlike aura he's bullied in school by basketball player Goo Ja Sung and was an outcast in school. He also loves playing basketball but feels inferior because of his dad's basketball talents.
Kim Ha Kyung as Go Deok Jin
Is Hong Dae Young Super Rich best friend who pretends to be his father and was a member of the Serim Basketball team 18 years ago.
Wi Ha Joon as Ye Ji Hoon
Is a famous baseball athlete who admires Jung Da Jung and had some past connection with the couple (to be later found out at the end of the series *SORRY SPOILER)
Kim Yoo Ri as Ok Hye In
Is the music teacher and she's like a perfect pretty teacher but is hiding on a geeky side of the world of games, film, and has a huge computer set in her room.
Lee Ki Woo as Choi Ill Koon
*SPOILER* The bully who remained as a bully. Ko Dok Jin may seem like a swabe character who loves to teach sport as a coachnim but he was like a flipover when I had watched him. He seems super nice but always had a hidden agenda.
Choi Bomi as Seo Ji Ho
The class president and is the twins childhood friend. He looks up to Hong Da Yong and is treated like one of his kids and the only student who knew about Hong Dae Yong true personality
Hwang In Yeop as Goo Ja Sung
The school bully, I remember seeing him in Tale of Nokdu and he has more speaking lines in this one, I don't like his character in the original film but this character was given a spin-off that I tend to like in the future episodes
Romance
The romantic scenes in the drama are really light hearted but at the same time so kilig. Even if you know that there's a huge age gap between them you won't notice it. It's really like dad doing his best to win mom again. The backstories were also knitted in the story as if it was a story book. The young romance was the epitome of love, sacrifices, communication and understanding.
I really love the way the romance was executed and how it perfectly fits in each scene. The moment she/ he remembers a certain mannerism or what he or she did before is just so beautiful.
My other fave couple is Ok Hye in and Go Deok Jin, their relationship was really cute and naive. I felt like they're teenagers falling on the same path but not even knowing.
Memorable Scenes *SPOILERS AHEAD*
There are a lot of memorable scenes in the movie that I would love to see in the series. The Court scene from the original had a huge impact on me but in the series the best scene was the (*SPOILER*) interaction between Hong Dae Yong and his father at the basketball court (when he did a sign language), it broke me into pieces. I love the delivery, the music, and the way it was shot.
My other favorite scene is when Hong Dae Yong was at the basketball court begging to give his life back another buckets of tears are served! hahahaha
The scene were Jung Da Jung tells Aerin and Dok Jin that she's going to date this 18 year old Dae Yoong and doesn't care about their huge age gap was a funny scene!
And the moment when Jung Dajung told her son that she's finally working on her dream job, Hong Dae Yong couldn't help but join them.
Last memorable scene for me was when Aerin finally had the chance to see Hong Dae Yong after how many years. The man she also considered her first love and when she saw him "Her first love became an ahjussi" hahaha
Verdict
The drama will remind you of the sacrifices our parents have to make in order for us to live and have a great life ahead of us. When we are younger we never understand why our parents are like this or like that, but in the end, everything they do is for our own good and for the love they have for us. I will always remember that our parents sacrifices their dreams for us to dream bigger.
And Love will always find it's way to meet you again.
