Please Teach Me English (2003) User Reviews

Cute and delightful flick that deals with mistranslation

[KineticSeoul · 7/10 · 27 December 2012]

When this movie came out, English was the rage since Asians tend to think the English language to be cool. That is probably the reason why there is random Asian words on shirts and other clothing in Korea, some that don't even make sense. This whole movie when it comes to the humor is driven by mistranslation and mispronunciations. So audiences that know how to speak English and understand Korean culture is going to get a bit of a kick out of this movie. My friend who is Korean couldn't stop smirking most of the way through this movie. The plot revolves around slightly odd people coming together in a class to learn English. But mostly has to do with two of the students in that class. One is a dorky and flirtatious guy that tries to pick up girls using English and is played by the actor Jang Hyuk. This is the reason I like Jang Hyuk, he is cool and charming actor and yet he doesn't mind acting like a bit of a dork and doesn't try overly hard to appear cool and gentleman like all the time. Which makes him seem like a comfortable person to be around because of his appearance of being a honest person with himself. He is basically a Korean heartthrob but it's cool he takes on roles like this. The female lead is a dorky and yet cute girl played by the actress Lee Na-Young who is actually but made herself look nerdy as possible for this role. This is a very low budget Korean romantic comedy that is cute and to some degree charming even when it comes the humor that is delightful to watch.

7.2/10

A Pleasant Surprise

[djd58 · 7/10 · 9 June 2008]

I almost passed on this movie since it appeared too quirky for my tastes, a romantic comedy about a class of South Korean students and its Australian English teacher. Well, I was right about the quirky part, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. This is a fairly straightforward romantic comedy made exceptional by the performances of the two leads, Na-yeong Lee and Hyuk Jang. Lee plays Yeong-ju, a relatively shy, awkward woman, who immediately falls in love with the young "player", Jang's Moon-su. Yeong-ju tries to win his love through every means possible, from asking outright to teaching a pig English. She is borderline psychotic and she would be considered a stalker in the US, but she's so funny and adorable you want her to win anyway. I must admit, it was also fun watching Lee, a very beautiful actress, turn herself into a clumsy mouse-of-a-girl.

The subplot is touching: Moon-su is trying to learn English so he can translate conversations between his mother and his sister, Victoria, who has lived in the United States since she was given up for adoption. Mun-he Na plays Moon-su's mother and also gives an endearing, heartfelt performance. The only discordant note in the entire movie is the young actress playing Victoria, who clearly cannot act, but her poor performance only made me realize how good the other's were.

There is also some witty use of animation in some scenes that cleverly supports the story without threatening to overshadow it. A possible exception is the Mortal Kombat parody that does goes on for a bit but it is pretty funny nevertheless, and it occurs early enough in the film so that it fades to the background by the two-thirds mark.

As an aside, I have no idea what the picture on the cover of the DVD is portraying as it bears no relationship to the movie itself. Don't attempt to judge the movie by that picture.

A Good Date Movie

[NickDanger · 7/10 · 20 December 2004]

Even though the character development are not as established as hoped, this movie comes off as a pleasant surprise. The scene transitions are not always smooth, and there are a few odd tacks in the script course, but it does come off altogether as a cute date movie. The production techniques are very good, with some interesting animation along the way that enhance the whole scene. Especially the fighting game sequence.

The acting was good; Hyuk Jang was good here, better than Windstruck I think. But the top acting goes to Mun-hee Na as Moon-Su's mother. There is a fairly dramatic section about a reunion of separated family that she really carries home. The dramatic portion cut into a lot of the comedy and seemed out place, but it did add some additional depth to the otherwise thin story line.

Some of the character interaction were not clear but as a whole it was well done and comes off as time well spent.

A below-average movie

[d2army · 6/10 · 11 May 2004]

This movie tries very hard to insert comedic elements at rather awkward moments throughout its duration, and the end result is intermittent success but a general failure.

The movie is especially slow in the beginning and attempts to solicit cheap laughs.

However, one of the strangest issues here is how Moon-su and Young-ju got together. Maybe it is just me, I personally felt that it looked kind of forced, and that Moon-su was dating Young-ju out of sympathy, since for most of the movie, Young-ju is portrayed very effectively as the an obnoxious and foppish coquette. Considering Moon-su's personality in the film as being generous and sincere, I guess that has to be the only reason why he started to date her.

Above all, this movie definitely ranks about down there with films like Crazy First Love.

Sung-su Kim should really stay in the serious-movie genre

Romantic Comedy... but don't let that put you off.

[rampaging_bn · 8/10 · 1 May 2004]

I had no idea what this movie was, or what it was about when I first picked it up, but I found myself sucked into it quite quickly.

This review may contain slight spoilers, but if you've seen a romantic comedy before, you'll know the outset.

At first glance, it's a fairly stock-standard romantic comedy about an adult class in Korea being taught english by Cathy (Australian Angela Kelly) for various reasons (business, family, overseas trips), but as you see more there are a few things that set this film apart from its competition.

My main gripe with this movie would be that the characters seem to change their attitudes and feelings on a dime. The obvious love between the two main characters 'Candy' Yeong-ju (Na-yeong Lee) and 'Elvis' Moon-su (Hyuk Jang, playing a very different role than from his efforts in Volcano High) seems to start too slow and then bullet ahead just in time for the end credits.

Despite the comedy, this film does have some extremely touching moments, and I did feel for most of the characters with the possible exception of Cathy. Most noticably with Moon-su's side-story of a sister that was adopted and moved to America at a very young age.

All in all, it's a nice and pleasant film. I found myself laughing out loud in more than one scene which is rare for me. Also look out for cameos from some better known Korean actors, such as the man on the train with the newspaper.

6.5/10

Cute romantic comedy almost entirely undone by its third act.

[Coolestmovies · 5/10 · 4 June 2012]

This is an overly slapsticky date movie starring Lee Na-young as an uber-dorky (and therefore uber-cute) public service drone encouraged by her coworkers to take an English class in an effort to improve relations with English-speaking customers. In the class, our heretofore loveless heroine falls fast for suave shoe salesman (Jang Hyuk), a slick player who has played far less frequently than he lets on and who's taking the class so he can communicate with his American-raised sister, who was given up for adoption as a child. Lee's infatuated. Jang thinks she's a dork (which she is) and is himself besotted with the English teacher (Angela Kelly, one of the precious few white actors in Korean films with actual acting skill as of 2003; pity she seems to have ventured behind the camera in low-level tech jobs since this). Characters are broadly drawn (with the exception of Kelly, oddly enough), which means gags are plentiful; some stick, some slide down the wall, and others are delivered with little animated word bubbles and cartoon heads that pop up on screen, The mangled use of English by the leads and their classmates carries a certain charm for both Korean and non-Korean audiences, but the picture is done irreparable damage in it's third act when the American sister shows up, played by a beautiful woman with seemingly no acting ability and a little-girl voice. Her scenes with Jang and their guild-ridden mother are supposed to be one of the film's melodramatic high points, but this performer's absolute wrongness for the part stops the movie dead in its tracks. I can't seem to find this woman's name anywhere online, but perhaps its for the best.

correction

[satsu_jin_sha · 8/10 · 14 August 2005]

i completely disagree with the posted review i usually give people the benefit of the doubt but this movie is quite funny and i think the usage of different movie mediums (ie animation, documentary)added a very cute yet thoughtful comedic value. It is a romantic comedy and not much should be weighed upon the realism but there are some pleasant real life twists and communicational misunderstandings and misinterpretations that give the movie a nice personal relevance. Also the underlying theme of the importance of people worldwide learning English as a necessity is mind opening.Especially how it is presented. The movie Isn't very serious or artsy which makes the point of people having trouble worldwide with being forced to learn English that much easier to witness for those of us who grew up in a place where English is the native language. I definitely recommend this film for fun and definitely for anyone who has the experience of being forced to learn English.

Could Have been better

[phd_travel · 5/10 · 15 May 2020]

The cast is likeable even when they overact. There are some fun moments. Didn't like the exaggerated parts. Surprisingly not painful as expected. The premise was good but could have been done better.

Not a must watch.

please help me

[tom46-563-802502 · 9/10 · 23 October 2009]

This story is about relations between Mun-su (starring Jang Hyuk) and Na Young-ju (starring Lee Na-young), both of whom are classmates in a private English class. Mun-su, having a taste of girls, would frequently look out for girls working in his shoe retail shop. However, Young-ju, who had an interest in Mun-su, frequently looked for him. Mun-su said she was normal. They eventually became friends, and would frequently sit together in English classes.

One day, Young-ju boasted about a pig in her grandparents' farm who had the ability to recognize the English alphabet. The curious class decided to take a trip to the countryside and look for the pig, only to discover that the pig had been eaten up earlier on the same day (it was just a convenient excuse for Young-ju, as there was in reality no such intelligent pig). Young-ju used a little piglet and trained it to recognize the English alphabets, of which her efforts was discovered by Mun-su, who stepped in to help. However, the pig ran off after they successfully managed to achieve their goal, and had to run into the farms to recapture the pig. The entire expedition, along with Young-ju's family had a party that night before returning.

During the return journey on the bus, Young-ju overheard Mun-su sharing a photograph of a woman with his partner, which she mistook as Mun-su's girlfriend. As she listened, Mun-su boasted that the woman in the photograph was more beautiful than the person herself in real life.

A depressed Young-ju skipped classes, and her English teacher had to look for her before the second last day of class, prompting her to return to class. When Young-ju refused, the teacher knocked on her head, and both parties had to turn up in class the following day with a plaster on their heads. The day after, Young-ju, following a farewell lunch party in a Korean restaurant with the class, (of which Mun-su did not turn up, claiming that he had some personal matters to attend to), happened to meet Mun-su's mom as she entered a hotel, looking for Mun-su. Her mum took Young-ju to be a public relations officer, and Young-ju discovered that Mun-su's mum was meeting the girl she had seen in the photograph.

The girl, known as Victoria or Moon-young, spoke no Korean and needed Young-ju to translate. As Mun-su's mum, wearing a hanbok, expressed her grief, regret and joys to Victoria, Young-ju, who had only just learned simple English, was at a loss and uttered out that "she looked more beautiful in the photo than she was in real life". Victoria looked astonished, hardly believing her ears. As her mother walked away, weeping, telling Young-ju that she will be going to the restroom for a while, Young-ju told Victoria that everybody hated her because she is not Korean. Victoria responded to Young-ju and told her to tell them that she came with good intentions and left.

Mun-su's mum was astonished when she returned to the empty table. Mun-su arrived at this point of time, seeing his mother weeping. A guilty Young-ju went into hiding, seeing everything. They checked the counter, and found out that Victoria had just checked out of the hotel. Victoria gave one last glance at her family, before leaving for the car. Young-ju stopped her car, and told Victoria that everybody was waiting for her, and that she was actually lying.

Victoria went back in, and hugged Mun-su and his mother. Young-ju slipped away and boarded a train, with Mun-su leaving his newfound family and trailing behind Young-ju. He boarded the same train, and confessed that Victoria is not his girlfriend, but his long-lost sister from New York. Mun-su found Young-ju and helped her to put on her shoes. Following which, they kissed each other, and the entire expedition on the train cheered for them. The couple married later and had a baby.

Please, everyone know name of song, when Yeong-ju is crying in metro and Moon-su hind her....I like this song..If you know...very please send me email: [e-mail]

Quirky, strange and very engaging...I loved it.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 2 December 2012]

When "Please Teach Me English" begins, you KNOW it is NOT a normal film! Its opening credits are adorable...and done using cute Korean animation. The story is about a very, very strange lady who is like a Korean version of Steve Urkel! To say she is nerdy and awkward is definitely an understatement! She is volunteered to take English language classes, as no one in her department knows English and they feel that SOMEONE should--thus Candy is nominated. Once there, she immediately falls for a cute guy named Elvis, but Elvis is only interested in their cute teacher. In addition, Elvis seems like a player--and what would this sort of guy see in socially awkward Candy?! To see what's next, see this film!

There is so much to like about this film. It's strange style is exciting to watch. Some may hate this, some might love this. I would compare it to "Scott Pilgrim Versus the World" or "Happiness of the Katakuris"--two very surreal films with strange interludes and stranger style. So, for example, when characters dream--you see it! The film also benefits from some adorable characters who are easy to like and the film has many funny AND romantic moments. My assumption is that the film would work better for younger audiences as well as those who like very unconventional comedy. If you want your film to be normal or conventional, then keep looking!

By the way, there are a couple observations about the English teacher. I was startled when her voice when she spoke Korean was clearly NOT hers--as it was much deeper. Also, early in the film, she had an American accent. However, late in the film she clearly sounded like an Australian. I would love to know from where she actually was born and/or raised.

A fun sweet movie that will leave you will a smile on your face!

[fistamamanbush · 10/10 · 10 September 2014]

The posted review is seems to be the only negative one. The film is sweet, fun, often funny, and well worth an afternoon's or evening's viewing. The movie is about a mousy public official who needs to take English in case any foreigners come into her office. There she meets the man of her dreams, unfortunately the guy is a cad and seems interested only in fancy girls. This is compounded by the fact that their English teacher is an attractive woman. This all leads to lots of wacky encounters, typical Korean misunderstandings, and love. The leads are sweet and play off each other very well. There's a sub plot about a daughter given up for adoption coming back to Korea to meet her family, and these subplots are often superfluous but it works well here. The lead actress is utterly goofy and adorable. The rest of the cast is great as well. All in all, a fun sweet movie that will leave you will a smile on your face!