If there's any doubt -- after last week's screening of Cyrano Agency -- that South Korea excels at rom-coms every bit as easily as it does at dark crime flicks, the coming week's showing of MY GIRLFRIEND IS AN AGENT should lay them to rest for good. If Girlfriend is not as creative or surprising as Cyrano, it's such frothy good fun that I doubt you'll mind a bit. Opening in the top slot at the Korean box-office and staying in the top ten for over two months, this Asian version of Doug Liman's anything-but-light-on-its-feet Mr. & Mrs. Smith (one of its many posters titled this Korean rendition Mr. and Mrs Lee) proves twice as much fun, with almost none of the deadening, smart-ass attitude of the Pitt-Jolie fiasco.
Combining surprise and disguise (the gun-toting bride, above), unrequited love, adventure, thrills and comedy with one of those nasty viruses that could wipe out the whole world, the movie has not one shred of believability -- which is all to the good. You can relax and giggle while you take in the scenery (including the very enjoyable and hot stars, Kim Ha Neul and Kang Ji-Hwan), the spectacle and the comedy.
Mr. Kang, in particular proves a most adept leading man, as funny as he is sexy, and the crack supporting cast is all to the good. For what the movie does with its delightful display of fencing/dancing (above), I think you'll be glad you stayed. And there's plenty more where that came from.
Offering a terrific gunfight in a fun house and several near-love scenes (we never quite get up to the point of coitus interruptus), My Girlfriend culminates in a spectacular chase and fight sequence that's as much fun as it is exhilharating and fast-paced.
Part of the continuing Korean Movie Night series, My Girlfriend Is An Agent (New York Premiere, 2009) screens free this coming Tuesday, March 27, at 7pm.
Remember: Korean Movie Night, brought to you by the Korean Cultural Service of New York, screens every other Tuesday at 7pm at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, one block from the A, C, E and 1 train Canal Street stops). Admission is free, but all seating is first-come, first served. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Remember: Korean Movie Night, brought to you by the Korean Cultural Service of New York, screens every other Tuesday at 7pm at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, one block from the A, C, E and 1 train Canal Street stops). Admission is free, but all seating is first-come, first served. Doors open at 6:30pm.
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