I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK (2006) - Review

When reflecting on the films of Park Chan-wook, known worldwide for Oldboy, Thirst and Stoker to name a few, it would be easy to assume his films all follow the same grim violent path. He himself came to this conclusion and decided to try his hand at making a comedy that he could watch with his family. The resulting film is a quirky genre experiment with a fantastic title: I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK.

The film opens as our protagonist is checked into an institution for the insane, she believes herself to be a cyborg. Not just any cyborg, but one with a distinct and possibly dangerous mission. Will she find the help she needs (mentally AND emotionally)? Is she legitimately unhinged or is something darker, more surreal, going on?

Make no mistake while the film is light in tone and has frequent humorous or heartwarming moments, there's absolutely some disturbing and violent imagery on display here. Additionally although the film greatly enjoys surface-level relationship melodrama, it also takes occasional sympathetic examinations of mental instability. It is rare that any form of entertainment can mix light romance with tragic characters and still come off as overwhelmingly playful and charming, something this film does effortlessly.

The strength of this movie is in the depth of its characters and the tenderness of its oddball humor. The cast is large and well developed, with even supporting characters getting a chance to shine. Unfortunately this is also where the film stumbles a bit, taking time to flesh out nearly every member of the cast, complex and zany though they may be. This can still feel like a detour from the main narrative. In addition, occasional flashback sequences add to the already slightly uneven edit. It feels a bit like the director may have fallen in love with all the quirky characters, which leaves the main story feeling something of an afterthought.

The solid acting in general goes a long way towards alleviating these plot deviations, keeping things entertaining and surprising throughout. Regardless of pacing issues, the emotional beats of our lead protagonist’s character arc hit hard and will always leave the audience guessing.

The humor may not be everyone's cup of tea and the language barrier may obfuscate some of the jokes, but a lot of it makes the transition and will elicit an occasional chuckle at least.

The camerawork and chosen compositions are inventive and seem like careful pre-planned choices on the part of the cinematographer rather than decisions made on the spot, something that is all too common in this genre of film.

The soundtrack is eclectic and charming, good enough to return to on its own merits after viewing the film.

The VFX in the movie are a solid mix of practical versus digital and, with the exception of one sequence, it all holds up pretty well!

Should you see I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK?

If an occasionally silly, slightly disturbing, visually arresting, dark romantic comedy sounds like your cup of tea…then this film is a solid bet for your next movie night. If your attention span is slim or you have a strong aversion to quirk, light violence, light gore or mildly disorienting surreal imagery then this isn't the romantic comedy you're looking for.

If I must assign a star rating, I would give I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK (2006) a 3.25 out of 5. It’s a little cute, a little clumsy, and a little disturbing.

Reviewer: Josh Evans
Initial Review Date: Aug 21, 2015
Transcription/Edit Date: June 15, 2026