If In Love Like Them (2007)

In that time of Lee Dong Gun Fever, I watched Perhaps Love, and since I feel it's underrated, a little review is needed. So bear with me for a moment.

Story : Are you fed up of desperate causes ? Of Love-me-I'm-Dying kind of Drama ? I understand you. I was like that too. After 1Litre of Tears, Koizora and so on I just couldn't do it anymore. No more suffering, goodbye hospitals : I just gave it all up.
But this short drama let me see that there is still hope for the genre. And anyway it's not like it's a 120 episodes melodrama, there are only 4 episodes and they are all aptivating, really well directed, and full of surprises. In fact, it's so well done that I consider it a 4hours long movie rather than a drama.
And you'd be surprised how much you'll laugh in that drama. Indeed Perhaps Love was done by smart people, who are very much aware of how hard it can be to watch a melodrama, so they gave us 3 incredibly funny characters who lighten the atmosphere.
Plus, they managed to rid this drama of many of all the Dramalandian clichés we would expect to see in this kind of story, which helps a lot !

Acting : I rate it 10 because it really is outstanding. You believe in the characters, you are in this story with them, and it works. Don't expect the fake and classic End-Of-Episode-Kiss-Scene because the only kiss you'll get is those these characters can give each other in their situation. Their anger is real, their saddnest is real and their love is real.

Music : It's not all OST, you also have real-life songs if I may say, like CCR "Have You Ever Seen the Rain", a song that is doomed to make me cry from now on. Very well chosen and balanced.

Rewatch Value : You'll see in the end of the drama. If you're like me, you'll want to rewatch it right away. And then in a few weeks. And then in a few months.

Overall : Underrated. Incredible. Melodramatic without needing any string quarted. It's short. It's great. Just watch it.

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The synopsis of disease may sound cliche and overused, but the overall drama will make your heart ache.

This is a story that didn't just incorportate cancer and leukemia for the heck of it - they were vital and the writer/s made good use of it to create a wonderful story. They were not introduced by the end to make a random sob story. From the beginning the viewer can feel future tradgedy and drama and it's executed beautifully.

The soundtrack is harmonic and mellow as if it were a nostalgic. It is not overused and when it is, it does as it's supposed to: enhance the scene for the viewer.

Lee Hyori is a great singer and in this her acting was nothing to complain about. She embraced her character well. Lee Donggun has a humble charm about him that doesn't come off cocky nor weak. His acting portrayed his character perfectly in my opinion. Both worked well together and had great chemistry. Side characters were also well played.

If you're looking for a short dramatic love story, this is the drama for you. Not too many episodes - no part is particularly boring and overall the story is very well executed. To me, it's a drama that you just enjoy to the end and don't look back. Yes I would consider rewatching, but I get the feeling that it wouldn't be the same as the first run through. Again, overall 10/10.

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