I’ll be honest, I don’t have a favorite romantic comedy but, being a man, that shouldn’t come as any surprise. It’s not until we age and give in to our female companions that we sit down and half-assedly watch them. I’ve only seen my fair share of them because I write for this site, but it wasn’t until this past weekend at a screening of Giddens Ko’s You Are the Apple of My Eye that I realized the genre wasn’t doomed and that there are great modern day romantic comedies out there…and I may just have found my favorite.
Based off Giddens Ko’s bestselling novel, which is also based off of his life, this 100% true story (or so Giddens says) tells us about the first time Ko fell in love in high school and how he is sorry for letting her get away. The movie follows Ko Ching-teng (played by himself), your typical trouble maker and the only one in his circle of hilarious friends who doesn’t have a crush on honors student Shen Chia-yi (Michelle Chen). When a rock and roll jerk off competition in the back of the classroom takes place, Ko Ching-teng and his friend ‘Boner’ get caught resulting in the two switching seats. As punishment, Ko Ching-teng must sit in front of Shen Chia-yi so she can keep him in check. When Ching-teng helps Chia-yi out, she thanks him by helping him get serious about studying. As the two spend more time together, their interest for each other grows stronger but as the college years arrive will their relationship ever get past the close friend stage? If one stops being too serious and one stops being too childish maybe things can work out between the two.
Coming of age stories and romantic comedies are a dime a dozen these days, so it’s always nice when one comes along that hits all the right spots. What sets Ko’s film apart from others is that this one radiates passion, is brutally honest, and feels as authentic and erratic as life itself. Once you start to see the duo’s relationship begin to blossom you can always feel their romantic tension since neither wants to make the move that dubs them “official.”
Though the romantic aspect of the film represents the core of the story and keeps you emotionally invested in the characters, it’s the comedy and ridiculous personalities of each of these characters that keeps you in your seat roaring with laughter. Some of the hilarious shenanigans that occur in this film include a “fuck you” battle in English between Ko Ching-teng and his neighbor at 3 in the morning. There is also a scene where you’ll see a group of guys masturbating to Japanese porn but having conversations while they’re doing it. And these scenes are just the tip of the iceberg.
The brotherly/sisterly dynamic among all the characters is reminiscent of the bonds you find in movies like The Goonies. Everyone is clearly having a good time and works off each other with ease which is a testament not only to the directing and casting decisions, but how good these actors are and why the film runs like a well-oiled comedic machine.
There is only one issue that I have with the film and that has to do with the aging of the characters. The film takes place over the course of at least eight years and you can barely tell anyone aged. Shen Chia-yi looks like she aged slightly but even that’s a stretch.
Personally, I found You Are the Apple of My Eye to be brilliant. It’s a coming of age film where our lead actually recognizes his mistakes, understands what he may have done wrong and realizes that there is no way to change the outcome. It’s a refreshing look at life and how the real world actually plays out, especially when it comes to your first love which I’m sure people can easily relate to. It also has the benefit of being completely true, which makes all the quotes and hilariously ludicrous scenes that much more entertaining. If you have the opportunity to see this film don’t hesitate for a second, you won’t regret it.
Rating: My favorite romantic comedy to date and the best coming of age story I’ve seen in years (8.5/10)
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