May Who?

I stumbled upon the 2017 Thai romantic comedy "May nai fai rang frer" (aka "May Who?") in 2021. And yeah, I hadn't even heard about this movie prior to watching it. But of course, with it being a Thai movie, and my love of Asian cinema, and the fact that I hadn't already seen it, of course I managed to find the time to sit down and watch "May Who?"

And I must admit that I was more than genuinely entertained and pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable and entertained that "May Who?" turned out to be.

Writers Chayanop Boonprakob, Nottapon Boonprakob, Vasudhorn Piyaromna and Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn definitely managed to concoct a wholesome story that encompasses elements of different genres, such as fantasy, romance and comedy. It was a well-written storyline with interesting characters. And director Chayanop Boonprakob definitely brought the movie to life on the screen in a very satisfying manner.

There is a good amount of comedy in the movie, but it is the heartfelt story that drive this movie, alongside with some good performances from the actors and actresses. I must admit that I was especially impressed with the performance of Sutatta Udomsilp (playing May-Nai), because she really carried this movie with her performance as the electrifying young girl.

If you happen to get the chance to sit down and watch "May Who?", then I strongly suggests that you do so, because I was surprised with how enjoyable this movie actually turned out to be. I had initially expected just another run-of-the-mill teenage comedy. But "May Who?" was more than just that.

I am rating "May Who?" a well-deserved seven out of ten stars.

I saw the trailer for May Who? during a screening of Our Times, and there is just no way I would see something so silly. But I spoke too soon. Thought it will be fun to catch it with my mom...

Pong is a high-school geek who belongs to a group of high school outcasts known as the "Invisibles", and enjoys letting his imagination run wild by drawing cartoons. May-Who is also one of the "Invisibles" and has an extraordinary secret: an ability to discharge electricity like a Tesla coil. Whenever her heart beats faster than 120 beats per minute her body releases a powerful electricity charge. Pong accidentally learns about this and promises to keep it a secret in exchange for helping each other win over their own high-school crushes.

Doesn't the synopsis sound like Our Times? The essence of it might be the same but both movies are poles apart in terms of execution. There is only one way to watch May Who? - you must leave your brain at the door. My expectations were low and surprise surprise, this teenage rom-com does serve up quite a few solid moments. At times it nearly hits a home run but a downright ridiculous moment will follow up and take the soul away. It's a shame really... it should have trusted us to understand that the electrical charge power is just a metaphor for teenage social behavior awkwardness, but the director decided to milk it too literally. Still, there are some warm moments and I enjoyed the animated sequences, in particular the Roger Rabbit-inspired one at the end. I also like Pong and May's character because they remind me of who I was - socially awkward and non-confrontational. For me, loving someone from a distance is as good as it gets.

There is also something to be said about watching the movie with the right crowd. I was surrounded by teenage girls and their spontaneous and hearty laughter made me accept the outrageous story easily. Sometimes it is good to watch a movie through teenage eyes.

Mixing teenage romance with a fantastical twist, May Who? Aims for charm and originality but falters under weak storytelling and uneven execution.

This Thai teen rom-com introduces Pong (Thiti Mahayotaruk), a comic-book-obsessed outsider, who discovers the secret of May (Sutatta Udomsilp)-a shy girl who literally discharges electricity when her heart races. The premise offers intriguing potential, using May's "electric shock" ability as a metaphor for adolescent awkwardness and hidden feelings. Yet, while clever in concept, the film struggles to strike a balance between fantasy and meaningful character development.

The strength of May Who? Lies in its youthful energy. The leads deliver likable performances, particularly Sutatta, who gives May an earnest vulnerability. The high school setting, peppered with pop-culture references and quirky visual effects, captures the chaos of adolescence. However, the narrative leans heavily on formulaic teen-romance tropes and slapstick comedy, which undermines the emotional depth promised by the premise.

Stylistically, the film is colorful and lively, but the overuse of gimmicks and exaggerated humor often overshadows character arcs. The pacing suffers from unnecessary subplots, and the story's resolution feels predictable, leaving little lasting impact. Instead of elevating the metaphor of May's condition, the film settles into shallow entertainment.

Ultimately, May Who? Entertaining in moments but failing to deliver a cohesive or resonant story, it represents a missed opportunity in Thai teen cinema.

Rating: 3/10 - A lighthearted teen rom-com with a creative idea that fizzles out due to weak execution and over-reliance on clichés.

Watch this movie makes me laugh all the movie! Selain lucu, ada part sedihnya ala-ala film anak SMA. Gak bosen rewatch dan suka sama ost yang dinyanyiin Bank Thiti.