The most disappointing primetime Vietnamese movie of 2023

The film starring Hoang Thuy Linh was criticized as one of the failed projects of 2023, due to its rambling and bland plot.

"Not Afraid to Get Married, Just Need a Reason" is a project by the Vietnam Television Film Production Center (VFC), airing on VTV from September 21st.

The film was expected to be a new "blockbuster" as it brought together a cast of talented actors from multiple generations, including Meritorious Artist Phu Don, Meritorious Artist Thanh Quy, Thanh Binh, Nhan Phuc Vinh, Trong Lan, Quynh Luong, Manh Dung, Trung "Ruoi", Bao Han, Quang Anh, etc. However, the reality was completely the opposite.

A strong cast couldn't salvage the flaws in the script.

Not afraid to get married, just need a reason, revolves around Yen (Hoang Thuy Linh) and Dong (Trong Lan) - two brothers from a well-off family in the countryside, both past the age of marriage but still single.

Yen – a talented and strong-willed woman who took on the role of director at the age of 30. She has incredibly high standards for choosing a life partner.

While Dong was a wealthy village heir, living without dreams or ambitions and declaring he would never marry, he considered inheriting a large fortune from his grandfather a form of talent. Therefore, all Dong needed to do was live healthily, avoid breaking the law, and wait for the day he could inherit his fortune.

To change the situation, Mr. Trong (Thanh Binh) and Mr. Mao (Meritorious Artist Phu Don) use every means, even "tricks," to put pressure on their two children and grandchildren.

"I'm Not Afraid to Get Married, I Just Need a Reason" is disappointing despite featuring a strong cast.

One might have expected the series to offer many hilarious and heartwarming situations, or reflect the lives of young people burdened by pressure, leading them to take marriage lightly. However, after 20 episodes of "Not Afraid to Get Married," viewers are left feeling bored due to the drawn-out and unfocused plot.

The evidence is that even though we've gone two-thirds of the way, the relationships between the characters Yen and Phong, and Dong and Huyen, haven't progressed much, or rather, they've remained stagnant.

Furthermore, the plot revolves solely around the interactions between the boss and his employees, with trivial situations and stories about Mr. Trong's family and Mr. Mao's family back in their hometown. The drawn-out content gives viewers the feeling that the series is deliberately dragged out without any climax or dramatic tension.

In addition, many situations in the film were considered exaggerated and drawn-out, such as faking illness to force children or grandchildren to meet their lovers, or conducting background checks on others like an interrogation… Some viewers commented that the film was nothing more than a comedy sketch, trying to be funny but being bland.

Hoang Thuy Linh's acting was criticized as stiff and expressionless.

Hoang Thuy Linh's acting was criticized for ruining the film.

The film "Not Afraid to Get Married, Just Need a Reason" marked Hoang Thuy Linh's return to the screen. However, this role was considered a step backward in her acting career compared to previous projects such as "Life's Path," "Going Towards the Sun," "Idol," and "Monster Heart"...

In the film, the character Yen, played by Hoang Thuy Linh, is the manager of a branch of a large company. She is portrayed as a capable and talented woman when she takes on the role of director at the age of 30, but up to this point, Yen has not been able to demonstrate her abilities.

Furthermore, Yen failed to demonstrate leadership when facing difficulties, and her management style towards her team of employees was somewhat childish, immature, and unprofessional.

Hoang Thuy Linh's habit of widening her eyes was criticized as being inappropriate for the lead role in the film.

In addition, Hoang Thuy Linh's acting was criticized as awkward. Her way of speaking sounded like she was reading, and her constant wide-eyed expressions made viewers uncomfortable.

"Why does Hoang Thuy Linh keep widening her eyes like that?", "The film was ruined because of the female actress," "I don't know why actress Hoang Thuy Linh's eyes are always wide open like that, are there no other actors left ? I can't understand it," "I don't hate Hoang Thuy Linh, but her acting is not good, awkward, stiff. Add to that the bland script and the film will be a disastrous failure" ... these are some of the comments from viewers on film forums.

"Not Afraid to Get Married, Just Need a Reason" was originally planned to have 30 episodes. Currently, the series is airing up to episode 21 and is considered one of the failed television projects of 2023. On the ratings chart for currently airing television dramas, "Not Afraid to Get Married, Just Need a Reason" has a low rating of 3.7%.

This number has remained virtually unchanged since the series aired. Previously, prime-time dramas on VTV typically maintained ratings above 4%. With the current developments, "Don't Be Afraid to Get Married, Just Need One Reason" is predicted to continue its record-low ratings.

(Source: Tien Phong Newspaper)

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