The volleyball-themed movie One Win feels familiar, with its characters and structure following the usual tropes of sports films. However, it still manages to entertain with its heartfelt moments and engaging visuals.
The Pink Storm is a women’s professional volleyball team on the brink of disbandment. One day, eccentric tycoon Jung Won (played by Park Jung Min) takes over the struggling team. He appoints Woo Jin (Song Kang Ho), a coach with a messy life and a dismal win rate of under 10%, under one condition: they must secure a single victory. But what is the real motive of the new owner, who sees the underdog comeback story as a marketable opportunity?
Woo Jin accepts a coaching position, but he displays as little passion as the players on the team he’s been assigned to coach—a team on the brink of disbanding. He assumes he just needs to endure until a more prestigious university volleyball team scouts him. Similarly, the players have lost hope and cannot envision a bright future for themselves. Yet, as the saying goes, even weeds feel pain when trampled. These underestimated individuals grit their teeth and become determined. What initially seemed like an easy victory starts to feel harder than winning the championship. This realization prompts Woo Jin and the players to make a new resolution: even if they end up in last place, they won’t give up on the pursuit of victory. Can the eccentric owner, the perpetually unlucky coach, and the uncertain players achieve that elusive first win?
One Win adds an extra layer of fun to its underdog story—centered on a group of outsiders coming together—through its unique characters, particularly the team owner, Jung Won. At first glance, he seems like a villain who views the team’s lone victory as a mere commodity, but his unexpected words and actions deliver plenty of quirky humor. For instance, when told, “We don’t have enough players,” he replies, “Then buy some players!” And when met with, “We don’t have the money for that,” he quips, “Then sell some players!” Park Jung Min brings this character to life with a vibrant performance, highlighting its distinctive charm.
The movie delivers intense and exciting match scenes. It uses music and visuals similar in style to the rowing sequences in The Social Network and creates an immersive and realistic atmosphere, making the volleyball match scenes feel as thrilling and authentic as watching a live sports event. The actors, who even underwent intensive training camps, bring the games to life with their exceptional teamwork and performances. Real volleyball players joined the cast to play the opposing team, and actual sports commentators added to the excitement by providing live commentary. The movie’s most thrilling moments are the intense rallies, a signature feature of women’s volleyball. The filmmakers used virtual reality technology and seven cameras to create a dynamic and immersive viewing experience.
The comedy about a coach and players who only want easy wins is surprisingly funny. Song Kang Ho’s natural acting and Jang Yoon Ju’s impeccable comedic timing deliver laughs at just the right moments. Additionally, Jo Jung Suk, who previously worked with Song Kang Ho in The Face Reader and Drug King, makes a cameo appearance that adds a hearty dose of humor.
Nevertheless, because the film faithfully follows the typical sports movie formula, it has its limitations. Aside from the team owner, Jung Won, the characters and story feel predictable and overdone. In particular, the players, who are supposed to be at the heart of the story, don’t make much of an impression. Their personalities aren’t distinctive enough to grab attention. Even though the game scenes are well-directed, they don’t add much to the overall story. The game scenes that initially caught our interest start to feel repetitive and boring without a fresh twist. As a result, the final match, which should be the most dramatic moment, ends up feeling flat.
However, the hopeful message in the film really resonates. Woojin tells a player, who sees his cautious and timid nature as a weakness, “Because you’re attentive, you notice the world around you more, and because you’re careful, you make more thoughtful decisions.” It feels like the film is telling us that without flaws, there are no strengths. People who are always at the top may think falling means hitting rock bottom, but even at the bottom, there’s still a lot to see and think about because it’s a place where people live. By gradually working your way up, you might eventually reach the top. One Win offers this kind of encouragement. As Jeong Won puts it, “The struggle of outsiders always warms the heart,” and watching their journey makes our hearts burn with passion too. (7/10)
Edited by Hwang Hong Sun
Translated by Yu Jin Kim
Editor Hwang Hong Sun: A Korean movie buff who wishes that the warm messages in good works will warm up this world at least by one degree Fahrenheit.
