Edited by Yang Young Jun
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
It’s the definition of familiarity. From character settings to stories and humor codes, it’s a feast of “things I’ve already seen.” This is about Mission Possible, the movie in which the only impressive thing is action.
Yoo Da Hee, a member of China’s intelligence agency, attempts to have secret rendezvous Korea’s black agent Shin Ki Roo to get to the bottom of the arms trafficking scandal. However, when he fails to show up at the place they agreed upon, she mistakes Woo Soo Han, the head of a detective agency that lent them the space, as Shin Ki Roo. Woo Soo Han, who was in urgent need of money, decides to join hands with her when he’s offered a large amount of cash for activity cost, but this cooperation that started off on the wrong foot cannot possibly roll along. Will these two be able to solve the case safely?
As mentioned earlier, Mission Possible lays out a series of cliches. From the combination of “A who seems frivolous but is actually hiding a scar” and “B who seems cold but is actually sloppy” to their teamwork going from banoodles (?) to fantastic and their tasty tiki-taka, they are the topics of many other action/buddy movies. Of course, familiarity is not a bad thing. You could think that these topics are well accepted by the public, but because of that reason, inevitably, the “freshness” is somewhat reduced.
Comedy, which is the core of the comic action genre, is also scanty. As if you say, “I’ve prepared everything because I don’t know what you’ll like,” the movie presents various kinds of humor cores, including slapstick, gags, language play, and twist comedy from beginning to end. There may be moments when the audience burst into laughter depending on their taste, but the so-called “batting average” is relatively low. One can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if they pushed ahead with just one weapon (?). On top of that, gags that caricatured homosexuality and constant mockery of one’s appearance are too anachronistic that it’s even embarrassing to say that it’s “old-fashioned.”
Another downside is within the probability of the plot. You may ask back, “What’s probability got to do with a comedy genre?” but if the lack hinders the fun of enjoying the movie, then it’s something we must mention. Besides the fact that an intelligence agent failed to properly identify her co-worker, the reasons behind the villain bears no persuasion. The reason for his choice of smuggling firearms into Korea is “because people must know that they should be grateful for having the right to vote in a country where safety is secured”? I hardly think so. When I see him preaching his logic to the audience near the ending after forgetting to showcase a single hint throughout the movie, I only burst into laughter.
But amid all the regrets, the one thing that stands out the most is Kim Young Kwang and Lee Sun Bin’s action. The impact of their action is honestly much better than expected. Their barehanded action is excellent, but above all, fancy performances using various tools such as weapons, kitchen utensils, and fire extinguishers combined with speedy camera walking complement the disadvantage of this being the two actors’ first action movie and provide abundant attractions. With this, you can also see how hard the two actors worked to perform unfamiliar action scenes. However, if there is anything to be desired, it is Lee Sun Bin’s fashion during her action scenes. It’s quite unnerving to see her throwing her body with the uncomfortable combination of “dress and high heels,” and no matter how limited the dress code might be due to the situation of the play, they could have come up with better alternatives.
Mission Possible seems like a restaurant where side dishes taste better than the main dish. Kim Young Kwang and Lee Sun Bin’s chemistry and action certainly lit up the movie, but the most important story and comedy failed to leave any impact. This movie will be a choice for you if you dive into it with a light mind and the thought of “let’s enjoy the fun of thrilling action rather than comedy.”
Verdict: No to comedy but yes to action (4/10)
Editor Yang Young Jun: There is at least one good part in every movie or TV series. A media geek who isn’t picky with genres.
