Seoul Vibe review: Fun, stylish, and entertaining

3.5/5

Story: Set in 1988 Korea, the film revolves around Park Dong-wook and his friends who find themselves in a dangerous situation when they are tasked with spying on a few influential individuals and collecting information regarding slush funds hoarded by the previous government.

Review: Netflix’s latest Korean film Seoul Vibe is a fast-paced action comedy that partly resembles a few Hollywood action productions, the most obvious example being the Fast and Furious series. But what makes this film enjoyable and interesting is its rooted story. All the action and drama take place in 1988 Korea when the country was not only hosting the world’s biggest sporting spectacle but was also going through a phase of social and political upheaval. Directed by Moon Hyun-sung, the film has exciting chase scenes, stunning visuals, great performances, a good soundtrack, and is also a tad bit nonsensical.

The film opens with Park Dong-wook, a skilled driver, and his companion Joon-ki returning to Seoul after completing a task of transporting weapons in Saudi Arabia. Dong-wook dreams of going to the US but his plans are foiled when a prosecutor threatens to put him behind bars for carrying out illegal activities. However, he promises a US visa to Dong-wook and his gang if they manage to secure information on the slush fund hoarded by the previous government. Before doing this, they need to gain the trust of Chairwoman Kang In-sook, one of the main figures of the underground economy, and General Lee, Kang’s right-hand man. The gang decides to take up this deadly mission.

The highlight of the film is its characters; Yoo Ah-in’s Dong-wook believes he is the best driver in the world. When he returns to his homeland, he realises that his neighbourhood has been destroyed in the name of “maintenance”. But this hardly matters to him since he was never too interested in politics nor social welfare. All he cares about is relocating to the US and participating in a racing tournament. Lee Kyu-hyung’s Bok-Nam is the funniest of them all. He is an unlicensed taxi driver who is Dong-Wook’s most trusted friend. Oh Woo-sam aka John is played by the charming Go Kyung-pyo. He is a DJ and is extremely popular among women. Park Ju-hyun plays Park Yoon-hee, Dong-wook’s younger sister who is the leader of a biking club in Seoul. She is confident, flirtatious, and playful. Ong Seong-wu’s Joon-ki is the youngest in the group who also doubles up as a mechanic. These five characters and their friendship keep the film going.

Although the film is primarily an action comedy, it is necessary to be familiar with the politics of South Korea to fully understand the story. South Korea hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics a few months after the end of the dictatorial regime of President Chun Doo-hwan, who assumed power after orchestrating a military coup. In the film, the head of the former government is referred as the ‘bald dictator’ who is corrupt to the core. Additionally, that was also the time when many international brands found their way into Korean markets. This also finds reference in the film. In one of the early scenes, when Dong-wook and Joon-ki land in Seoul, Bok-Nam gives them a burger. Dong-wook then says, “McDonald’s in Seoul? What a great world we live in.” This intertwining of real events and a fictional story adds more substance to the overall narrative.

The film has the the charm and vibe of the 80s Korea, and people who have lived through that period are sure to feel nostalgic. There aren’t many fight sequences when compared to other action films, but the car chase scenes are brilliant. The soundtrack is peppy and syncs with the overall mood of the film (There is a pleasant surprise in store for all those who watched the K-drama Reply 1988). The comedy is spot on and all the actors deliver impressive performances, most notably Ah-in, Kyu-hyung, Kyung-pyo and Kim Sung-kyun. Moreover, it’s so good to see Ah-in and Kyung-pyo sharing the screen again after Chicago Typewriter.

One drawback of the film is that its pacing becomes inconsistent in-between and it would have been better if it was shorter by a few minutes. Additionally, a few scenes are illogical and too hard to digest. But then again, Seoul Vibe is one such film which is just meant for pure entertainment and nothing else.

Verdict: Even though Seoul Vibe may not be a conventional action film in the literal sense of the word, it is highly entertaining and keeps one hooked to the seats till the very end.