My Sassy Girl | 
| Director: Yann Samuell
Actors: Jesse Bradford, Joanna Gleason, Elisha Cuthbert, Austin Basis
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $1.95
You Save: $18.03 (90%)
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Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 16023
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2253249D
UPC: 024543532491
EAN: 0024543532491
ASIN: B0019X3YXM
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: August 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A sweet midwestern guy with his life planned out for himself is wooed groomed and ultimately dumped by a complicated elusive gal. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 01/13/2009 Starring: Elisha Cuthbert Jesse Bradford Run time: 95 minutes Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com
Loosely based on the 2001 Korean romantic comedy of the same name, My Sassy Girl follows a young couple that was brought together by unusual circumstances. Charlie (Jesse Bradford, Flags of Our Fathers) finds Jordan (Elisha Cuthbert, 24) drunk and passed out in a subway station. Worried that she'll be harmed, he makes sure she gets home safely. The two have nothing in common. He has a life plan and a cautious approach; she lives moment to moment and literally throws caution to the wind. Like The Lake House--a remake of the Korean movie Siworae--the plot of My Sassy Girl has been changed enough that it's its own film. While not nearly as charming as the film on which it's based, it has its winning moments--especially in the final third of the film when it makes sense why this unlikely pair should be together. As Jordan notes, "We have to stay alive, because we have to see how the story ends." Bradford and Cuthbert lend charm and likability to their roles. While the plot often asks us to believe in them when they're placed in situations that are completely unbelievable, the actors make us root for them. There is a surprise tear-jerking ending that is highly contrived. Still, you may want to have a tissue or two on hand. --Jae-Ha Kim
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| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Yet Another Remake That We Really Don't Need... June 7, 2009
Tsuyoshi
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The 2008 "My Sassy Girl" is, as you know, a remake of the Korean film of the same title made in 2001. But the remake went straight to DVD in USA, which suggests something is wrong with the film, but you know, Danny Boyle's Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire" was almost released straight to DVD instead of getting a theatrical release in America, so you just cannot judge the film by that alone. In the case of "My Sassy Girl," however, my instincts proved right.
In "My Sassy Girl" Elisha Cuthbert (best known as Kim Bauer in "24") plays the titular girl, slightly eccentric and unpredictable Jordan Roark. When good-natured, mild-mannered Charlie Bellow from Midwest (played by Jesse Bradford, "Bring it on") meets her on the subway platform in New York City, the girl is terribly drunk and she falls asleep on the bench. As Charlie is a kind guy, he couldn't leave her alone so he carries her (literally) to his room.
This is probably a highly unusual (and unlikely) way of getting to know someone else, but the film goes on anyway. Knowing that life with this strange girl is big trouble, Charlie continues to meet Jordan, who keeps cropping up unexpectedly, and virtually sabotages his career. I don't know why, but he thinks she is still attractive and irresistible, so Charlie starts seeing her and falls in love with her.
What is refreshing and intriguing in a certain situation doesn't necessarily look the same in another. Ji-hyun Jun's "sassy girl" in the original, so full of emotion, interested us because of the cultural background of the heroine and the hero and their reversed power relations between the sexes. Elisha Cuthbert's "sassy girl" on the other hand is only implausible and annoying. Her character lacks the soul that the original's sassy girl surely had.
Or maybe someone else should be blamed. Yann Samuell, known for his unique and dark romance "Love Me If You Dare" (starring Marion Cotillard), is clearly not the best choice for director of this film, of which story includes very melodramatic elements. You need confidence in telling this kind of emotional love story, but judging from his previous effort which looks like darker "Amelie," Yann Samuell's strength lies somewhere else.
There are many romantic comedies set in New York City - "Annie Hall" "When Harry Met Sally..." and the list goes on - and like them the city itself plays a significant role in "My Sassy Girl" which is visually alluring. Sadly its soulless narrative lacks the charms and beauty of the photography.
 My Sassy Review April 24, 2009
Steven Mason (California)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This film is billed as a romantic comedy, but it is neither romantic nor funny. It is the story of a "nice," but bored, college boy who falls in love with a destructive girl. We learn at the end that Jordan's destructive behavior is due to a "painful secret," but the most painful part of this film is the film itself. Jordan's (Elisha Cuthbert's) "hotness" doesn't make up for this lousy movie.
There are no likable characters, and none of the characters make any sense. Ostensibly, Charlie's reason for falling in love with Jordan is that his parents are so nice and conventional that he craves people who are the opposite. For her part, Jordan has her own sick reasons for liking Charlie, and all the maudlin sappiness at the end doesn't redeem this story; if anything, it makes it worse. I can't tell you what Jordan's painful secret is without spoiling the movie (as if I could spoil it!), but I can tell you that her pain doesn't explain her behavior. By the middle of this film I felt convinced that Charlie loved Jordan not in spite of her destructive behavior but because of it, and there's nothing romantic or funny about that! Maybe Charlie also has a "painful secret" that could explain away his actions? I'll look for that in the sequel.
In the end, I was left wondering why Charlie felt so strongly attracted to an incredibly rude, destructive, selfish, irrational alcoholic who, even after she has pulled herself together, is still completely irrational with silly talk about "destiny." Take destiny into your own hands and avoid this movie!
 What did you expect, really? April 4, 2009
Joel Davenport (Idaho, USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Ho hum.
I don't think anyone expected this to be as good as the original - but I think we all wanted it to resemble it's Korean counterpart.
I feel there were a little too many creative liberties taken... the story is a little bit far fetched- the acting wears a bit thin here and there- and the scenarios are entirely different. This was so distant from the Korean version that it was hard to believe the writers had watched it at all.
Vaguely humorous, a good effort at least, but definitely not as good as the first. :(
May Hollywood Burn In Hell For All Eternity February 5, 2009
Anticlimacus
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
*Spoilers Below*
Why does Hollywood feel the need to take classic non-American films and rape them until they're deformed beyond all recognition? It must be nice to make millions of dollars by doing nothing more than crapping on various works of art from other countries. I'm apparently in the wrong line of business.
First off, Jesse Bradford sounds like a weasel and gives a mediocre performance. Just watch his reaction after Elisha Cuthbert lies to his teacher - it's terrible. Cuthbert is your typical Hollywood actress under 30 years of age - very hot, but couldn't act her way out of a paper bag. Watching her try to be "sassy" is incredibly painful because at times her mannerisms are overly accentuated to the point where she looks like she's got a bad case of hemorrhoids. As far as supporting actors go, the guy who played the runaway soldier was dreadful, and the old man near the end was even worse. Ji-hyun Jun's performance in the original was no fluke. South Korea has at least 5 times as much youthful acting talent than the States. That's no exaggeration.
This is your typical Hollywood remake that reenacts a dozen or so scenes from the superior original in unimaginative, idiotic ways (ala "The Departed") in an effort to pander to the dim-wittedness and xenophobia of your typical American moviegoer who would rather slit their wrists than read subtitles. This is evident in the dialogue, which is way too cringeworthy for its own good. Every single line is opaque, thoughtless, and overly simplified to the point of sheer stupidity. Here are some direct quotes from the film:
1. "Death, man...death sucks!" 2. "I like you and the last three days have been some of the most interesting (if not painful) of my life. But my brain is hemorrhaging and my career is ruined and I just think it's better if we part ways." 3. "Who would be intrigued by a hot, mysterious, passionate, possibly bipolar, violent, drunken, arrogant, rude woman?" 4. "Whatever she was going through - it was beyond anything in my experience and beyond my ability to fix. I had no right to judge her. If I chose to stay with her (knowing the risks) all I could do was give her love and respect and see how the story would end." 5. "I'm sorry. He's just a guy my father made me go out with, but every second I was with him I was wishing it was you and that's why I called you tonight - I couldn't take it anymore. Charlie, I need you." 6. "Hey kid, is this a subway platform or your own piece of drawing paper?" 7. "You know what? I know that you really don't want to hurt me." 8. "Yessss, I'm free and I'm loving it. Train where are you. Wooo hooo. Choo choo."
Hollywood translation: "We resent your lack of intelligence, so we are apparently forced to lower the quality of this film by providing superfluous exposition on the part of the characters for the sole purpose of explaining every little thing to you. You are incapable of extracting emotional content from subtle mannerisms, symbolism, or even the slightest bit of indirect communication. Yes, you are a moron, but if we talentless hacks want to make money, we simply need the characters to verbally and plainly explain every little emotion, lest you become completely lost."
Am I the only one who realizes just how much Hollywood hates its own fans? At least 90% of their films are devoid of any and all subtlety. This is even worse in the case of remakes, because they must knowingly suck every ounce of intelligence out of the original film. Wake up people. You can cut the patronization with a knife. These movies scream, "You are an imbecile!" And yes, supporting them does make you an imbecile.
Oh, but that's not all. If the insipid, moron-proof dialogue weren't bad enough, this movie drops one of the most idiotic psychological twists humanly imaginable. Our two lovebirds decide to take exactly one year off so Cuthbert can heal her wounds, but she shows up 24 hours late because she needed one more arbitrary day for healing. That's beyond ridiculous. Only a Hollywood executive could think of something this mind-numbingly stupid.
The only halfway decent moments in this movie use concepts from the original. There's not a shred of well-executed originality to be found in this steaming pile of excrement. The only positives I can think of are a few pretty camerashots. Hence the 2/10 rating. The only comfort I have is that this vile garbage went direct to DVD. A small victory in the neverending battle against the cinematic dark ages that we Americans currently reside in. Cultural naivety, ignorance, repetition, and incredibly low standards seem to be the favored cinematic ideals around here as of late. However, I must say that the original Korean film is still nowhere to be found at your local video store. One might expect a simultaneous DVD release along with the remake. Such is unfortunately not the case.
People wonder why I generally hate Hollywood cinema as much as I do, but I ask you - my dear reader - how can I not? I don't like to be patronized by a bunch of talentless hacks in corporate suits who insult my intelligence by making a movie like this and actually expecting me to like it. Maybe I'm missing something, because everyone else around me finds comfort in this masochistic, self-hating existence. My fellow Americans may be flamboyant cowboys in terms of foreign policy, but in terms of entertainment they are the equivalent of abused housewives who keep coming back for more. Whether its ignorance or sheer stupidity, they just don't know any better.
May Hollywood burn in hell for all eternity. God knows they deserve it.
 Great date movie with Cuthbert goodness January 19, 2009
Steven Lynch (Chapel Hill, Tennessee USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Never saw the original. Don't care.
I watched this movie like 4 or 5 times on a cruise to the Carribean last week... and I loved it... and I'm a guy.
Its a great vehicle for Cuthbert, allowing her to act and not be just another pretty Maxim magazine pinup. She dominates the screen... and the male lead is subdued enough to allow her to intoxicate his world with what at first appears to be her Free Spirit wild-child ways.
Those that can't stand her Bi-polar-ish actions ...need to hang in there, ALL will be revealed. The character of Jordan Roark is much deeper than that of spoiled little rich girl. My wife couldn't hardly stand the character and was ready to give up on the movie... but I told her "Trust me, you're going to like the ending." For guys, Elisha Cuthbert is so beautiful and spunky and so full of life...well, what's not to love?
There are not one...but TWO payoffs at the end for those that do stick with it, Jordan's story...and one really great kiss. After you learn Jordan's story... you'll want to go back and watch the movie again and pick up all the little nuances of the movie that make a second watching much more enjoyable.
One superb quality to this movie is that its actually pretty clean,,, and would make an excellent first date type movie for a young couple. I wouldn't mind watching this one with the kids either, only a small bit of bad language
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