Coffee Prince gets a local serving

FANS of Korean MBC’s were elated over a Malaysian adaptation of the story, with popular actors Fattah Amin and Janna Nick in the lead. Finally it’s here, after premiering on Nov 27. The romcom, directed by Michael Ang, tells an unlikely romance between tomboyDani (Janna) andyoung food empire mogul, Rayqal (Fattah).

Dani is the breadwinner of her family and works hard to support her single mother Zahara (Sharifah Shahira) and younger sister Ira (Daiyan Trisha).

Viewers follow Dani working two jobs as a food delivery guy and a taekwando instructor. But things get tougher after she loses her jobs.

She meets Rayqal, a cocky rich kid whose grandmother, Kalthom (Elly Suriati), spoils him. One day his grandmother hands him the task of managing an all-male only employee café and Dani gets asked to work there as Rayqal thinks she is a man.

Rayqal, who’s not the nicest to Dani, soon warms up to her and slowly feels an attraction even though he thinks of her as a man. Where will this lead?

We’ll have to wait and see as the story develops. Perhaps fans of the Korean

already know where the plot is heading.

Beyond the storyline between Dani and Rayqal,fansalsogettodelveintothelove story between Rayqal’s cousin Amri (Fahrin Ahmad) and Maryam (Diana Danielle).

Fattah is known for playing the good guy and hopeless romantic hero in hit dramas like and

Here, Rayqal’s personality largely strays away from that persona. He’s not that hopeless a romantic (at least not yet), andherewegettoseeFattahroughitup a little —despite that Korean boy band haircut.

But Rayqal is from a wealthy family, similar to his roles in previous drama series. I would love to see Fattah show his capability as an actor by taking on more challenging roles.

The onscreen chemistry between him and Janna is strong and they work well together. It doesn’t quite make sense how Rayqalisdeceivedbyhertomboyishlooks — hervoiceishigh-pitchedandshedoesn’t havefacialhair(thenagainitisadrama after all) but I do enjoy their constant teasing of each other.

It was also nice to see Janna channelling her inner tomboy; she is a natural at portraying a man.

So far, there are a few underlying themes. One is the sacrifices a daughter makes to support her family, and the other, we should never take the things we have in life for granted.

Theseriesisonlyhalfwaythrough,and it’s quite an enjoyable watch so far.

Coffee Prince airs Mondays to Thursdays at 10pm on Astro Ria (channel 104) and Astro Ria HD (channel 123).

Fattah Amin as Rayqal and Janna Nick as Dani.