Na-eui PS pa-teu-neo

Raunch meets rom-com in the Korean crowdpleaser "My Phone Sex Partner", which in other territories has been given a perhaps sexier English title "Whatcha Wearin". Like its Hollywood brethren (that includes the many Judd Apatow produced and/or directed movies), it doesn't so much as tinker with the boy-meets-girl formula as add a layer of naughty – but like the best of its genre, there is something winning about the actors, the characters and the situations the characters find themselves in that ultimately makes the entire package delightfully entertaining.

The couple at the heart of this romance is the recently dumped Hyun- seung (Ji Sung) and the attached-but-disenchanted Yun-jung (Kim Ah Joong). Their meet-cute happens over the telephone one evening, when Yun-jung misdials her boyfriend's number and unwittingly gets into an accidental phone sex session with Hyun-seung. Though, as convention dictates, Hyun-sueng and Yun-jung will start off antagonistic – especially after the latter is left red-faced when she finds out her mistake – it isn't long before they find themselves bonding through sharing in each other's romantic quandaries.

Is it any wonder where they will end up? Well not really, but what matters is the journey to that inevitable destination of happily-ever- after, one which director Byun Seung-hoo (who also co-wrote the script with Kim Min-soo) makes both funny and touching. Between Hyun-seung and Yun-jung, there is definitely something in their respective circumstances you will identify with – whether the heartbroken Hyun- seung thinking back at how he could have treasured his ex-girlfriend more or the disillusioned Yun-jung who has been stuck in the same relationship for too long with a boyfriend that has grown too complacent.

And in the midst of their emotional doldrums, it is the sincerity and spark between the pair that is unmistakable, a union of kindred souls that proves disarmingly endearing. Most significantly, Seung-hoo isn't afraid to address the obvious physical attraction between his couple, manifested both in the way they openly share intimate information about each other over the phone at the start as well as their subsequent meet- ups. Rather than shy away from the topic of sex, he tackles it head-on, which gives a refreshing and realistic modern-day spin on urban relationships today.

But rom-coms are often only as good as the chemistry between the actors, and it is in this respect that the movie truly shines. Both are appealing in their own right – Ji being a surprising combination of emotional and independent; while Kim exuding both sass and femininity in equal measure – and the scenes with them together simply sparkle with verve. There is never a doubt that the two are great for each other, and that assurance not only makes you root for them more but also keeps you waiting with bated breath throughout an extended finale specifically designed to tease.

Yet to be fair, Seung-hoo's dexterity in applying a generic rom-com formula in a less than typical fashion extends beyond the finale. Particularly impressive is how he stitches together one of the first conversations between the pair that evolves seamlessly from an argument they have while Hyun-seung is drunk and despondent along a dark alley to a gentle and intimate exchange with both lying in their respective beds – in particular, the cinematography in this sequence deserves special mention, brilliantly conveying the connection that develops between them. Whereas many rom-coms are good only in parts, this one has great parts that make a satisfyingly engaging whole.

And indeed, its achievement is perhaps even more significant as one of the first rom-coms of the Korean film industry to add raunch into the mix. Yet the naughty talk and bare flesh isn't simply a cheap titillating tactic, but a invigorating spin on a genre that could certainly do with more such breaths of fresh air. It's no wonder then that the movie has come out of nowhere to emerge one of the biggest box- office hits of Korea last year - now let's just hope the inevitable copycats don't ruin the raunch-com too soon.

Romantic comedies make a contract with the audience to provide some laughs and some optimism about human nature. It's puzzling when reviewers complain about a romantic comedy being predictable, because the genre by its nature pretty much tells us what the ending will be. We don't look to rom-coms for "what will happen" but for "how will it happen."

"Whatcha Wearin?" (international title), aka "My PS Partner," includes the elements necessary to a good rom-com, but spices up the "how will it happen." The conversations between the male characters are raunchy, sometimes hilariously so, but the relationship between the hero and heroine is as sweet as it is sexy. And though the dirty talk distinguishes WW from other Korean rom-coms, it doesn't distract us from the emotions at stake.

The heart of the story is the two central characters and their honest phone conversations about relationships and emotions. The scenes of sex and phone sex would definitely earn it an R rating in the States--in fact, the MPAA would probably censor a bit before agreeing to an R rating, given the American squeamishness about sex. But the film's humor doesn't arise from the sexual situations. Instead, it comes from the inevitable tension between the cool people our characters want to be, and the emotionally bruised people they really are.

I'm wary of movies described as "raunchy," because in American movies the word "raunchy" usually means making fun of the fact that grown- ups have sex in the first place. But WW won me over quickly with its cheerful mature embrace of phone sex, masturbation and the pleasures of dirty talk in general.

The likable leads have a ton of chemistry. Actor Ji Sung deserves particular credit for making his character endearing and attractive, while also a kind of every-man, a quintessential guy with a broken heart who occasionally puts his foot in his mouth. Though I've seen Ji Sung play several larger-than-life characters in K-dramas, here he shows he's equally talented in a more naturalistic role.

The heroine of "Whatcha Wearin?" complains at one point that "love songs are so obvious." The hero replies that "love is obvious." That lack of cynicism anchors the dirty talk and makes for a delightful comedy.

Update: On re-watching this movie a couple times, I have to comment on its elegant structure. It's a textbook example of how to keep a film moving forward, without losing a relaxed, comic style. Too often rom-coms wander off course in the second act, but this movie knows where it's going even when it takes necessary detours.

My inner snob likes to reserve 10 stars for Serious Movies about Serious Subjects. Like, say, the Holocaust. But another part of me believes that comic films are as important as dramas. In fact, a romantic comedy is potentially more controversial than a Holocaust movie. No one's going to defend the Holocaust, but everyone has an opinion about dating, right?

In my original rating of this film, I penalized it a couple stars for being a comedy instead of a Serious Movie about Serious Subjects. But I've decided that was dumb. Within the genre of romantic comedy, this one hits all the right notes, so I'm upping it. If a rom-com can deserve ten stars, it's this one. I would agitate for an American remake, except we wouldn't be able to do it nearly as well.

I began to watch Korean dramas some months ago, and I got addicted. But the platonic romances are nice, but it was time to finally find some action :) I saw Seong Ji in some of them and in 'Kill me, heal me' one of his personalities is super sexy... and I thought then it could be great to see him freeing completely his sexiness. So, my wish was granted with this movie! And of course, we have here his great timing for comedy. And surprise: he sings! So, as you are getting from this review, I had much fun. I laughed a lot, and I smiled a lot. Ah-jung Kim is great and the supporting cast too. I don't understand the low ratings, for me it is a perfect Rom-Sexy-Com! Just relax... and enjoy!

Not accustomed to Ji sung in sexual film. Keep skipping the scenes until it finishs.

Unacceptable role to a beloved actor.

If you don't like romantic movies, this movie is for you. Although it has some of that typical romance movie, it brings a fresh cut to the table with various types of relationships being presented at once, with the main two actors getting in a unusual kind of relationship themselves. In terms of acting there isn't anything worth saying, it's okay, this isn't the kind of movie or plot made to work around the best of their acting skills but it's a rather simple one. The story itself is where the movie shines since it felt as a breath of fresh air in terms of romantic movies, although with some typical romantic scenes it also had some very original ones worth seeing. All in all it's a great movie to see no matter the mood you're in.