After the truly feel-superior dramas “Paper Flower” and “Eomung” in 2019, Koh Hoon ventures in comedy-land with a re-elaboration of the common topic of gangsters in disguise.
The film commences with a family extermination that will set off a individual vendetta afterwards in the story. Very well, actually, the extermination is none other than the accidental death of tiny hamster Bushy underneath the wheel of a gang Boss’ vehicle. In reality, Hairy’s owner, Cha Do-pil A.K.A. “Mad Dog” (Ji Seung-hyun) is an eccentric policeman who regards the small animal as his daughter and his entire family members, while the family-annihilator is Boss Hwang (Kim Jung-tae), on his way to just take down a rival gang. The latter is celebrating their Manager Jang’s birthday with a picnic on the seaside and a Hamtaro-shaped cake (Boss Jang loves hamsters far too!). Nevertheless, the merry day is interrupted by Hwang and his thugs who storm in, eliminate Manager Jong and test to do the very same with the gang’s associates. Jong’s 2 faithful henchmen Park Kyung-cheol A.K.A.“Bear Paw” (Oh Dae-hwan) and Lee Tae-yong A.K.A. “Baldy” (Lee Kyu-ho) hardly control to escape and throughout the evening, they obtain shelter respectively in the operate down Church of Angels and the Buddhist temple Concealed Shrine.
Bear Paw discovers that the Church of Angels had earlier been depleted and ruined by a crooked pastor. The tiny but fervent local community of devoted is overexcited in welcoming him as the new pastor and he reluctantly plays along, with unexpected, superior benefits. In the meantime, in the other spiritual establishment close by, Baldy integrates with the monks, running to get rid of a number of minimal scammers and petty robbers who cling close to the Shrine, earning himself the title of defender of the Temple. Policeman Cha Do-pil, investigating Boss Hwang, comes across the two gangsters in disguise and convinces them to crew up with him to hunt down Hwang and avenge equally Manager Jang and small Bushy. As Cha Do-pil is sometimes possessed by the ghost of a minor shaman girl, lifeless by fried hen (do not check with) the unlikely trio decides to simply call itself PMS (Priest, Monk & Shaman) and pretty quickly they are out for revenge.
South Korea has a rather numerous religious landscape, and a name for staying tolerant of this variety in fact, freedom of faith is enshrined in the structure. A significant part of the inhabitants identifies as possibly Christian – with Protestantism and Catholicism staying the dominant branches – or followers of Buddhism, which has a long history in Korea courting again to ancient times, adopted by a scaled-down range of adherents to other faiths, like Confucianism and several forms of shamanism. “Holy Punch”, written and directed by Koh Hoon, usually takes edge of this religiously multi-coloured landscape and sets a mild-hearted comedy of disguise and revenge, dependent on the evergreen gags of strident contrasts and displacement. As the Buddhist abbot summarizes at some position: “If the electricity of faith is put together with various religions, the impact could be multiplied”.
The a few principal people, that from mid movie develop into a good action trio, are assorted and have great interactive rhythm, specifically the two gangsters, sleek Bear Paw (since of a pair of vicious, spiky gloves he wears when preventing and stating mass) and chubby Baldy, vaguely reminiscent of the other action hero Ma Dong-seok, if only for the way he oozes a blend of congeniality and goofiness. There is a superior chemistry between the actors, whilst Oh Dae-hwan stands out above the rest when we find his angelic voice and his repressed talent for singing. A point out goes also to Kim Jung-tae, who perfectly embodies the vain and foolish Manager Hwang, a wannabe influencer, inadequately striving to gain followers on social media, in each individual feasible “instagrammable” way.
Amusing situations originate spontaneously when the gangster come across them selves pressured to impersonate spiritual authorities and tame their recurring manners, or – even improved – implement their techniques for a good induce. However, we need to not fail to remember that “Holy Punch” is also an motion film and it isn’t going to disappoint as so. Fights are refreshingly well orchestrated and Ji Seung-hyun as “Mad Dog” Cha Do-pil demonstrates off his proficiency and a variety of sweet hamster T-shirts. “Holy Punch” is the sort of spouse and children welcoming motion that will not openly present blood of gore. Yet, a subplot of organ trafficking feels a contact much too intensive and to some degree out of put, even although its apparent function is justifying a character’s betrayal. The film smoothly wraps up in 1 hour and 38 minutes – which is becoming a exceptional asset currently – and it leaves an open chance for PMS of having more adventures alongside one another.
To conclude, “Holy Punch” swiftly delivers what expected, a bit of exciting, a little bit of action, a bit of silliness. All in all, an entertaining popcorn film.