There has been an emergence of comedy films in Korean cinema ever since the immensely popular My Sassy Girl first blistered across theatre screens in 2001 and followed by other funny offerings that came out throughout the early 2000s like 200 Pounds Beauty (2006), and My Tutor Friend (2003). These films offer up a comical side to the stoic glitz and glamour of the Hallyu World and adding to this mix is this ‘riches-to-rags' dramedy written and directed by Ma Dae-Yoon, which features the return of Lee Min-jung with her first feature role since Wonderful Radio (2012).
“Switch” is screening at San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase
Park Gang(Kwon Sang-woo) is an infamous bad boy of showbiz, and his name is often mentioned in tabloids and across social media. The thespian is managed by his longtime buddy and failed actor Jo Yoon (Oh Jung-se). Park Gang enjoys bachelorhood and other finer pursuits and as a Prima donna, his diva attitude spills over into his work and view of life. After a night out drinking soju with Jo Yoon, Park Gang enters a taxicab on the way home and wakes up to find himself in an alternate universe(or maybe it was all just a dream…) where he is now a father of two kiddos with his ex-girlfriend Soo-hyun (Lee Min-jung) and discovers that Jo Yoon is now a megawatt star.
If there is one thing apparent about most of the comedic Korean pictures of late, is that they start off hilariously but then turn the corner with a completely different mood and tone going into the second act. An example is the horror/thriller elements that surround pictures like Parasite (2019) and Voice of Silence (2020). Switch, on the other hand, takes us on a heartwarming journey that explores familial ties, love, and regrets, after a chuckle-a-minute start that almost makes you pass it off as just another vapid comedy.
Kwon Sang-woo shines with a strong performance that not only showed good range but is a testament to why he was a leading man in many previous rom-coms. And you can be certain that the movie is sure to feature his famously chiselled torso that kickstarted the mom-zzang(‘great body') movement. The kid actors who play his children, Ro-hee (Park So-yi) and Ro-ha (Park So-yi), also colour the screen with their expressive and natural performance that make them ones to look out for in the future.
As the movie progresses, Park Gang slowly switches into his role as the provider of a new family he suddenly sees himself as the patriarch of. The struggling actor realizes his previous fame is diminished, and must come to terms with being popular again, portrayed through a very safe but tried and proven narrative family drama with a few touching moments that tug at the heartstring. There is nothing particularly unique in Ma Dae-yun's version of this storytelling trope, and in fact, it verges on the side of blandness with a sappy Christmas theme and questionable backing tracks. But taken at face value, it is still a sweet and heartwarming movie that not only makes you feel good inside but also explore memories and regrets.
Switch is a strong example of how when something is not broken, there is no need to fix it. While it is guilty of falling back on the traditional oohs and aahs of the feel-good genre, and bringing nothing innovative to the table, it can still be enjoyed for the satisfaction of a ‘happily ever after' kind of vibe that is best enjoyed without too many expectations.
