Nadech and Minnie Star in 'HENRY's First Dates' Rom-Com
Nadech stars as Henry, a southern Thailand hotel owner whose memory resets daily, opposite MINNIE's acting debut as Lucy, a hot air balloon captain who must win his heart anew each morning in this romantic comedy reimagining of "50 First Da
GDH and Sony Pictures International Productions present "HENRY's First Dates," a romantic comedy family film that reimagines the beloved "50 First Dates" with a new perspective, reversing the original premise so that Henry wakes with a reset memory each day instead. Directed by Mes Dharathorn and produced by Wan Wannaratana Pongsitthisak, with co-producer Sui Suwimon Techasupinun, the film stars actor Nadech Kugimiya as Henry, a charming small hotel owner in southern Thailand whose memory resets every night, opposite MINNIE of i-dle (Nisha Yontararak) in her acting debut as Lucy, a hot air balloon captain who travels the world and falls in love with Henry—a man who forgets her each morning. The supporting cast includes comedians Kiat Kittajaroen, Bel Phatumrach, and Vivian Tipakorn, with a delightful cameo from Simba, a capybara who observes the couple's romance.
The story follows Henry and Lucy as they repeat their courtship daily, with Henry's family and Simba witnessing their relationship unfold. Producer Wan Wannaratana explained the film's inspiration: "We missed making romantic comedies at GDH, and 50 First Dates is a film we love. We wanted to reinterpret the concept by flipping the perspective—instead of the heroine losing her memory, Henry wakes up forgetting everything each morning, making Lucy the one pursuing him. This creates an endearing dynamic where viewers will wonder what method Lucy will use each day to make Henry fall for her again. We also emphasized the family element, since living with someone who must rebuild memories daily requires tremendous love and understanding from those around him. Kiat, Bel, and Vivian brought warmth, humor, and heart to these roles." The production filmed across multiple Thai provinces including Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, and Chiang Rai to showcase Thailand's natural beauty. Director Mes Dharathorn noted his pleasure at reuniting with Nadech after "Love Scam" and working with Minnie for her film debut, praising her dedication and the supportive cast who guided her through the production. "HENRY's First Dates" releases September 17 in theaters.
