Extreme Job (2019) [Film Review]

Extreme Job; or, Fry Hard
     What’s the point of working so hard if we can’t even eat properly?
This time, I decided to watch an action comedy flick Extreme Job, directed by Lee Byeong Hun. As of 2019, the movie holds the record of the second most viewed production in the history of South Korean cinema. It was inspired by a Chinese production Lobster Cop from 2018.

Release Info

Directed by: Lee Byung Hun Starring: Ryu Seung Ryong, Lee Ha Nee, Jin Seon Kyu

Language: Korean Original Title: 극한직업 Runtime: 110 min

Synopsis
Captain Ko (Ryu Seung Ryong) is the leader of a narcotics team composed of skilled, yet hot-headed police officers. After committing a major blunder during the arrest, the team is given the last chance to save their faces by conducting an undercover surveillance of an international drug gang. For their stakeout base, they choose a chicken restaurant that is on the verge of bankruptcy. Convinced that there won’t be lots of customers, the policemen buy the restaurant. Unexpectedly, their recipe for a rib marinade becomes a hit and hungry customers begin to storm the restaurant...

Cook up the Police
Well, Extreme Job is a pleasant, happy-go-lucky comedy of mistakes that thrives on character chemistry and situational gags. The best way to describe the film is to call it a mix between John Badham’s Stakeout (1987) and Michael Hui’s Chicken and Duck Talk (1988). I am pleasantly surprised that South Korean filmmakers are warming up to such classic styles of comedy.

In my opinion, the only disadvantage of the film is the confusing second act which directs the heroes by mere coincidence onto the bad guys and their schemes. Apart from that, it is hilarious to watch Captain Ko and his men struggling to do their job while keeping the crowds of customers happy.

As expected from a Korean production, the action aspect does not disappoint as welll because we get some great fight sequences, especially in the film’s great finale. (I got that A Better Tomorrow reference!)

With regard to performances, Ryu Seung Ryong does a great job as the team’s leader. I think that he could easily play Golgo 13 in the live-action adaptation (he looks totally like this comic book character). My praise also goes to Lee Hanee as Detective Jang. She kicked ass the female member of the team. In addition, it was great to see Shin Ha Kyun as the villain yet again (*The Villainess flashbacks*).

Recommendations
I highly recommend Extreme Job if you want to lighten up your mood. It is a decent comedy with action elements. As of 2022, apart from a Region A Blu-ray, the movie is also available on Amazon Prime. I thought that it is on Netflix as well, but I could not track it down there.

Overall score: 8/10

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Psychokinesis (2018) [Film Review]

Psychokinesis; or, IronDad
     I just want to have the ability to be a father. However, the heavens gave me something different.
After the success of his theatrical debut, Train to Busan (2016), it seems that director Yeon Sang Ho is determined to deliver visually stunning spectacles. Psychokinesis is no exception as the film is a fresh take on the overused superhero concept wrapped in a unique Korean style.

Release Info

Directed by: Yeon Sang Ho Starring: Ryu Seung Ryong, Shim Eun Kyung, Jung Yu Mi

Language: Korean Original Title: 念力 Runtime: 101 min

Synopsis
Shin Roo Mi (Shim Eun Kyung) runs a successful fried chicken diner together with her mother. However, the district where their business is located is taken over by a mob-run construction company which wants to raze everything to the ground. Both women oppose the construction workers, but Roo Mi’s mom dies in one of the street fights. Enter Shin Seok Heon (Ryu Seung Ryong), Roo Mi’s estranged father who left the family home ten years ago. He leads an uneventful life as a security guard, but everything changes when he drinks water from a spring that has been hit by a meteor. Seok Heon develops unnatural powers. He can influence physical objects around just with the power of his mind. The man wants to help his daughter in battle against real-estate gangsters.

Parenting Lvl Hard
Psychokinesis kinda passed me by during its original release, mainly because I was worn out after non-stop action of Train To Busan. Having seen the director’s style of mixing pathos with buckets of blood, I was afraid Psychokinesis may repeat exactly the same tropes. Thankfully, I was wrong. It is a light-hearted action comedy without overt violence.

That being said, I can understand the disappointment of some viewers who were looking forward to the film since the first trailer hit the internet. For most of the time, Psychokinesis is not about spellbinding special effects, but rather, it focuses on a delicate relationship between a father and his daughter. The bombastic stuff is saved until the third act of the picture.

Having seen Psychokinesis, completely blind and without any expectations, I greatly enjoyed the story. In fact, I dare to think that Yeon Sang Ho’s movie excels in aspects which were not entirely delivered by another superhero flick, Inuyashiki (also released in 2018). Meaning that there may be not a lot of action in Psychokinesis, bu it gets the family theme right to a T. Indeed, Psychokinesis is an enclosed story about an average guy who wants to be a decent dad, not a hero, but I see the potential for a follow-up. Special effects and action sequences are totally awesome.

With regard to performances, this is an acting masterclass. I love the chemistry between Ryu Seung Ryong and Shim Eun Kyung. In addition, Jung Yu Mi plays a villainess (of sorts) called Managing Director Hong. She is basically a female version of Joker. Totally did not expect to see her in such a role after her performances in The Crucible (2011) and Train to Busan (2016).

Other aspects I greatly enjoyed were the epic music score by Jang Young Gyu and the editing by Byun Bong Sun. In spite of things flying around, each shot of the scene was clear and perfectly understandable. The F/X team also left their hearts in the studio.

Recommendations
I recommend Psychokinesis if you look for an interesting, yet toned down superhero tale outside of the MCU/DCU shenanigans. Ryu Seung Ryong is crazy awesome as an average everyman who makes things right. Psychokinesis is indeed a floating experience.Overall score: 8/10

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