Too Handsome to Handle

Too Handsome to Handle is a captivating Indonesian romantic comedy from 2019 that features a star-studded cast including popular teen heartthrob Ari Irham, award-winning actress Nikita Willy and the versatile Rachel Amanda. The movie enhances the typical teenage drama with a whimsical storyline packed with hilarious comedy and heartfelt moments, striking a balance between light-hearted humor and essential life lessons.

The story revolves around the life of Khalil, a charming high school student played by Ari Irham, who finds himself in quite an extraordinary predicament – he's simply too good looking! Khalil's good looks, which most would consider to be a blessing, turns out to be a curse for him. He's mobbed wherever he goes, making it difficult for him to lead a normal life. Each day brings new challenges for him to dodge his obsessive admirers, to the extent that attending school becomes a daunting task.

Khalil dreams of a normal life, where he can go to school like any other student and pursue his love for Astronomy, but his fans and his looks do not let him. He’s just too handsome to handle! Trying to find a solution to his unique problem, Khalil decides to change his identity and go in disguise as an "ordinary" teenager. The twist? Nobody but his mother and his best friend are aware of Khalil's dual life, leading to many hilarious mix-ups and confusion.

Nikita Willy plays Sanda, an economically challenged but vivacious and plucky girl who meets ‘average-looking’ Khalil. She's oblivious to Khalil's true identity and falls for his genuineness and passion for Astronomy. Khalil too finds her simplicity and authenticity comforting, something he dearly longed for. It's refreshing for Khalil to have someone like him for who he is, and not for his looks.

Rachel Amanda portrays Cinta, the attractive, popular, and super-rich leading lady of the school who is eternally besotted with Khalil's killer looks. Cinta’s desperate attempts to woo Khalil forms the basis of several comic moments. Khalil's dual life keeps colliding with his reality, especially when Cinta expresses her feelings for Khalil and Sanda gets entangled in this tangled love triangle.

The film is not just about teenage love and beauty but also encapsulates a deeper message about being much more than just our appearances. It beautifully portrays how beauty is fleeting and shouldn't be the only reason to fall in love with someone. It touches on essential life lessons where it encourages the viewers to follow their hearts, rather than societal standards of beauty and, appreciate people’s virtues rather than judging them by their appearances.

The performances by the cast are highly commendable, with Ari Irham doing an outstanding job of depicting the distraught teenager, wrestling with a problem that most can only dream of, thereby lending a light-hearted innocence to the film. Nikita Willy and Rachel Amanda also deliver noteworthy performances as they perfectly capture the essence of their contrasting characters, adding depth and dimension to the story.

The movie offers an assortment of rib-tickling moments, tender emotions, and moral teachings rolled into an entertaining package. Spoiler-free it must remain, but be prepared for several plot twists and turns that make Too Handsome to Handle an enjoyable roller coaster ride. Enjoy the dramatic interplay, comic timing, and tender romance of the characters as they navigate through the dilemma caused by Khalil's 'two faces'.

The movie was helmed by Sabrina Rochelle Kalangie, known for her knack for teenage drama, who wonderfully materializes the script into a film that can relate to a wide variety of audiences. The vivid storytelling, coupled with stellar performances by the leads, makes the film a wonderfully light but thought-provoking watch, guaranteed to keep audiences hooked till the very end.

To sum it up, Too Handsome to Handle is a total delight of a film that promises a mixed bag of laughter, love, and life's profound lessons, wrapped in an unusual storyline that is entertaining in every sense, making it a must-watch for all lovers of the romantic comedy genre.