My Girl Korean version starring Lee Dong Wook as Seol Gong-chan and Lee Da Hae as Joo Yoo-rin was a big hit here in the Philippines. The Korean show is fast-paced and really funny. The lead characters gave a believable performance and were quite good. Lee Da Hae’s infectious and you will really empathize with her character. It gave the local channel, ABS-CBN, great ratings from premiere to the end.
Now, since the Koreanovela (as how locals call imported Korean drama/comedy shows) was a big hit, ABS-CBN decided to buy the franchise and create a local version of it. Still called My Girl, the Philippine version stars Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson (Kimerald to their legions of fans). The two is one of the bankable love teams in Philippine TV. They have starred in another telenovela in the same network and a couple of movies. The telenovela as well as the movies all did well in ratings and in the box office, respectively. Their love team is being tested once again in My Girl, a take on the Korean version except that according to them, it was Tagalized (meaning, made to suit the tastes of the Filipino audience).
THE REVIEW
Well, I’ve watched the pilot and second episodes and to tell you honestly, I find it OKAY. Not really that funny unlike the Korean version but Kim at least delivered. Although she has to tone down her acting a bit. She comes across as trying hard in some scenes. Gerald, on the other hand, needs to attend a workshop if he wants to deliver. He looks brooding (not in the appealing sense) in almost all the scenes. In some, he even has this facial expression that looks like he’s suffering from indigestion. The character of Cathy Gonzaga (or is it Alex Gonzaga now?) is BLAH. Somebody should tell this girl to stop trying to be funny because she doesn’t come across as such. K Brosas as the antagonist is interesting. I hope she will be given more breaks like this. Ditto with Bing Loyzaga and Lito Pimentel.
Overall, I think My Girl the Philippine version will do good ratings-wise. A little more workshop for the younger cast and Gerald Anderson. Take out the too many unfunny extra characters and tone down Kim’s acting a bit.
One personal observation though, I think somebody should tell Kim Chiu to add a little more weight. I always say that tweens and teens are very impressionable. Kim is bordering on anorexic-looking. This might come across as the “in” body to her fans.
Try watching My Girl the Philippine version at ABS-CBN and let me know what you think.
