SYNOPSIS:
NAM Hyun-soo was once a popular idol star among teens and worshiped liked a god. Although he’s in his mid-thirties now, he’s still a sought-after celebrity and the host of a popular radio show. But one day a very young single mom named Jung-nam sends her stories to the radio show that Hyun-soo hosts. Her stories about her longing to meet her father whom she’s never seen before grips the nation and catapults the ratings to make it the most popular program. But to his surprise, Hyun-soo later confronts none other than Jung-nam, and her 7 year-old boy, Gi-dong. Jung-nam and Gi-dong invade Hyun-soo’s home and his radio station, claiming that Hyun-soo is her father. Hyun-soo does what he can to salvage his celebrity image.
MOVIE REVIEW:
What does it take to make Korea’s number one comedy? Well, a three-generational family it would seem- not just any three-generational family though, but one in which the grandpa is only in his mid-thirties. That’s the predicament facing once-swinging single bachelor Hyun-Su (My Sassy Girl’s Cha Tae-Hyun), who one day discovers that he has not just a daughter from a ninth-grade fling he had with an older woman, but also a grandson, from his daughter’s own fling with a clumsy, awkward boy.
Writer/director Kang Hyoung-chul’s surprise blockbuster hit is the story of grandpa Hyun-su, daughter Hwang Jung-nam (Park Bo-young) and grandson Hwang Ki-dong (Wang Seok-Hyun), the three-generational family living under one roof in grandpa’s house. The former singer turned radio personality Hyun-su only agrees to take his newfound family into his swanky apartment after daughter Jung-nam wonders aloud what would happen to his career if news of his 'family scandal' leaked.
Taking a dig at his country’s scandal-obsessed culture, Kang Hyoung-chul’s "The Scandal Makers" is a winning comedy thanks to a smartly written script, sharp direction and some excellent performances. Indeed, the reported rewrites that Kang went through before shooting has certainly paid off, and the little details like grandson Ki-dong’s sleepwalking habit, piano talent and card-playing skills work their charm beautifully. Just as endearing is daughter Jung-nam’s awkward teenage romance with the boy who knocked her up, and grandpa Hyun-su’s hilarious attempts at getting to know the beautiful principal of Ki-dong’s preschool.
It’s evident that Kang cares about each of his characters and his attention to detail is a large reason why you’ll find yourself invested in their going-ons. Kang’s direction is fortunately just as proficient as his writing. None of his gags outstay their welcome, and Kang opts for a more natural style of comedy than the lowbrow and the slapstick (which is gratefully absent here). He also shows a firm hand at pacing, and skilfully juggles the different plots both briskly and skilfully.
But Kang deserves the most credit for his spot-on casting. This is easily Cha Tae-Hyun’s funniest role since his breakout hit My Sassy Girl and his mixture of perplexity, confusion and exasperation is always hilarious to watch. "The Scandal Makers" also boasts one of the cutest and most natural of child actors in Korean cinema- Wang Seok Hyun. It’s almost guaranteed that the absolutely adorable boy actor (who plays Ki-dong) will put a smile on your face every time he appears onscreen.
It’s not hard to see why "The Scandal Makers" has won the hearts of so many people in Korea. It is hilarious and heart-warming, a crowd-pleasing comedy built on an amusing high-concept of a three-generational family. And while its message of love and family may have been sung and preached many times,"The Scandal Makers" will still win you over with its earnest heartfelt story. Of course, having a cute adorable and charming little kid helps a lot too.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
There’s a Behind the Scenes short which is no more than a 5-min B-roll of the cast and crew preparing to shoot some key scenes in the movie. (Thankfully, though the cast and crew’s dialogue are subtitled.) The Cast Interview has lead actors/actress Cha Tae-Hyun, Park Bo-young and Wang Seok-Hyun each taking turns to tell you about their characters and why you should go watch their movie. Finally, there’s also the theatrical trailer included in this disc.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The visuals on this Code 3 DVD are pristine and sharp, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 makes full use of the ambient sounds in the movie and its beautiful songs to deliver an immersive surround experience.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Gabriel Chong
Posted on 26 October 2009
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