There is something steadfast about the type of charm a movie such as “The Accidental Detective” has. Loosely based on Hitchcock's “Strangers On a Train,” this comedic crime thriller provides plenty of jocular entertainment, even if the story itself is reasonably unremarkable. Thus, despite leaving plenty to be desired, Kim Jeong-hoon's second directorial effort is an absorbing watch, regardless of whether its tried-and-tested buddy cop formula stumbles on the occasional cliché.
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Driven by his passion for crime, Kang Dae-man (Kwon Sang-woo) often shows up at his police friend Joon-soo's (Park Hae-joon) workplace, much to the displeasure of the Violent Crime Division. Often attempting to interject himself into criminal questioning through, he particularly grates on the “homicide white shark” Noh Tae-soo (Sung Dong-il), a respected officer who was infamously demoted for once using excessive violence. However, when their mutual friend Joon-so finds himself neglected by the force and framed as an alleged murderer, the overzealous blogger and crabby detective soon have no choice but to work together. Initially clashing with their clumsy self-investigations, the pairing do manage to quickly conjure up an offbeat chemistry, even if it is somewhat founded on mutual marital grievances.
In true buddy cop fashion though, hijinks and red herrings are never far away. So, whether it is the amateur Dae-man's ham-fisted attempts to escape his wife's disappointment, or Tae-soo's prickly investigative stubbornness, the duo's attempts to bestow justice is anything but plain-sailing.
Crucially, where “The Accidental Detective” thrives most is in its central pairing. Neither Dae-man nor Tae-soo are overwhelmingly competent at their job (one because of raw inexperience, the other down to a tiredness towards the judicial system), but their realistic arguments and rash decisions make for an impressive viewing. In fact, their childish bickering, clumsy theories and natural rapport carries the bulk of the movie's quality, occasionally papering over trope-laden cracks. Of course, one could make an argument that neither of the two tangibly develop as people throughout the two-hour runtime, or that both are rather one-dimensional, but this is not the right kind of cinema for shrewd growth. Instead, the comedy justly sanitises the murder mystery, with the juvenility of the two detectives providing welcome breathers from some of the tense segments of deduction.
Furthermore, although the film relies heavily on its overblown humour, it does manage to get its serious moments right. Consequently, courtroom scenes, prison visitations and suspect confrontations are regularly handled with care, stripping away light-hearted energy and replacing it with forlorn dialogue, or occasionally unwavering resoluteness. This not only keeps the integral whodunit weighty, but also ensures that Kim does not reduce his plot to a vapid, vacant tale of two mismatched associates clambering for predictable success. Therefore, the fast-paced story is engaging without being wholly earnest, but at the same time comical without becoming bombastic.
Accordingly, though, credit for much of this must go to Kwon Sang-woo and Sung Dong-il, who portray their characters seamlessly. The latter, who is familiar with encompassing grouchy humour into his depictions in the television series “Reply,” especially shines, giving Tae-soo a respectable, but nonetheless risible appeal. Likewise, Kwon excels in his role as a deadbeat husband, riddled with debt but unflinching in his resolve to somehow end up as part of the police force he was never smart enough to join. His anguished facial expressions tell a story of a desperate man, and his trepidation when conversing with his wife is just as telling. Ergo, both actors bring complimentary qualities to their roles, whether it be natural comic timing or emphasised expressions, and supplement the script brilliantly.
Continuing, from a technical perspective “The Accidental Detective” is fairly run-of-the-mill, never pushing boundaries, but rather maintaining a competent consistency. Still, there is one standout whereby cinematographer Ki Se-hoon presents a confrontation full of palpable tension during the movie's apex, in which there is a constant darkness and unabating rainfall. Moreover, Nam Na-young's rapid editing brings a frantic sense of urgency to the scene, constantly making the audience second guess potential resolutions. It is an excellent highlight of film, and stands well above everything else in terms of its composition.
To conclude, “The Accidental Detective” is a thoroughly enjoyable release packed with charisma and absurdity. Although far from flawless, Kim packages an uncompromising comedy thriller into a breakneck two hours, seemingly only ever pausing to make the eventual climaxes more emphatic. Therefore, one should not expect anything resembling perfection from this buddy cop, but if anticipation is kept to a reasonable equilibrium, there is no reason to come away unsatisfied.
