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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty & Fresh!, June 22, 2004
Being a huge admirer of Asian cinema and pro wrestling, I picked up "The Foul King" with few expectations; I was curious how a comedy about pro wrestling in South Korea would play out, especially years after South Korea's glory days of the pop-sport have come and gone.For many of us Americanos who love Asian flicks are aware, comedy can get lost in translation and/or different cultural tastes. I found the comedy in The Foul King outright funny, with no humorous blockades or borders. The actors have a unique spontaneity, delivering physical humor that doesn't go too "over the top." The comedy is just shy of being typical sophomoric humor, but they pull in the reigns before they cross the line from comedic to buffoonery. Good dramatic performances are an effective contrast to the silliness, and these element make for one of my favorite DVD surprises in the past year. We have seen similar premises since the silent movies: Dae-Ho is a mediocre performing office worker in a mediocre office, brow-beaten by an abusive supervisor, and pretty much a loser outside the office. He chances upon a pro wrestling gym, suffering in both the talent pool and the economic side, and whose owner is looking for potential students. Dae-Ho dreams of following in the footsteps of Korea's wrestling icons like Kim Il. The road to his fantasy has multiple snags & bumps, with organized crime and day-job conflicts jumping into the mix to keep this a fresh comic caper. I recommend this DVD whole-heartedly. The protagonists are refreshing, the heels are loathsome. An age-old plot, yes...but an irresistible age-old plot!
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