A sequel to the 2017 blockbuster “Confidential Assignment”, in which the main leads returns to a different director for a relatively much the same ordeal they went through before. Now, however, they have to put up with an unwelcomed FBI agent from the States. The movie went on to become the third highest-grossing Korean film of 2022 besides receiving the Blue Dragon Film Awards' “Popular Star Award” for its stars Im Yoon-ah and Daniel Henney.
The film kicks off in New York City where FBI agent Jack (Daniel Henney) intercepts a drug deal and arrests the ruthless North Korean crime leader Jang Myong-jun (Jin Seon-kyu). While Jang is being transported back to Pyongyang, his thugs ambush the FBI agents and he escapes after a fierce street shootout. Somehow, he manages to sneak his way into Seoul with one billion dollars' worth of North Korean fund thus prompting the North Korean government to send their top agent Im Cheol-ryung (Hyun Bin) after him.
While in Seoul, Im again teams up with local detective Kang Jin-tae (Yoo Hae-jin) to track down drug dealer Jang. Meanwhile, being constrained to a desk job in the Cyber Crime complain department due to a mishap during an investigation, Kang is more than excited to have the opportunity to work with the North Korean again. In addition, FBI agent Jack suddenly shows up in town, hoping to arrest Jang for killing his fellow officers, and the trio soon find themselves reluctantly working together. All of this eventually leads to a confrontation on top of a high rise in the middle of Seoul which also involves a ticking chemical bomb.
Besides being blessed with rugged good looks, South Korean TV drama heart-throb Hyun Bin is equally convincing as an action star even though the script doesn't give him much to do except look cool. In contrast, comic Yoo Hae-jin, with his less than leading man looks provides most of the bulk of the comedy throughout but the two leads manage to make a pleasing team and share decent screen chemistry reprising their roles. However Hyun is still rather wooden acting wise and luckily Yoo is a bit more restrained and less goofy here. Adding to the mix is the tall and handsome American-Korean model actor Daniel Henny; his FBI character Jack communicates in English most of the time and acts mainly as a sex object for the women to drool on.
Popular singer turned actress Im Yoon-ah, better known as Yoona was already a well-established celebrity and a top brand ambassador because of her involvement with “Girls' Generation”, a very popular local girl group. Therefore, it is only natural that the filmmakers gave her character, Park Min-young, sister-in-law to detective Kang, a much meatier role this time around. Nonetheless, she still has a crash for the suave super-agent Im from the North and clowns around but she now gets a chance to help the detectives out.
The brutal and snarling North Korean drug gang leader Jang Myong-jun, played by Jin Seon-kyu with a very strange looking hairstyle, somehow lacks impact and looks tame compared to other villains from most recent Korean crime films. The rest of the female members of the Kang's household are still the same as they were in the previous film. Action-wise there are plenty of gun shootouts usually accompanied by a soaring guitar soundtrack, and the one in New York City in particular is epic and impressive but viewers have to wait till the end for more action, as the middle section is mostly comedy driven. Furthermore, rendered like some kind of super-humans, bullets seem to bounce off the main protagonists while the bad guys are just terrible at their aiming.
Although this well produced and slick buddy-cop sequel offers viewers nothing new story wise, it should still please the many royal fans of Yoona, heart-throbs Hyun Bin and Henney respectively. Credit goes to the filmmakers for knowing what their audience wants and at the same time balancing action with comedy immaculately.
