Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Netflix comedy 'Husbands in Action' promises big laughs, chemistry
Jin Sun-kyu, left, and Gong Myung pose during a press conference at the Ambassador Seoul hotel in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
The Netflix movie "Husbands in Action" is an action-comedy that follows the hijinks of a rescue operation put together by the ex-husband and current husband of a woman kidnapped by a criminal organization, according to director Park Gyu-tae as he introduced the film, Monday.
"I've focused on situational comedy from clashing groups in my past works, but the biggest difference in this film is the action," Park said during a press conference in Seoul.
The director, known for the 2022 comedy "6/45," added that the action sequences unfolding across various locations will be a key point for the audience to watch.
The movie follows a desperate rescue mission by the elite narcotics detective and ex-husband Choong-shik (Jin Sun-kyu) who teams up with his former wife's handsome young veterinarian husband Min-seok (Gong Myung). Together they chase down a criminal group that has kidnapped Shi-nae (Kang Han-na), Min-seok's current and Choong-shik's former spouse.
Throughout the movie, the two leads try to overcome their awkward relationship to navigate a series of dangerous situations while fighting the drug lord Do-jun (Kim Ji-seok).
"The script was so entertaining that I found myself reading the lines out loud, and I could immediately visualize the scenes in my head," Jin said. He said he wanted to show two different sides of his character by being a tough detective at work and a gentle father at home.
From left are actors Kim Ji-seok, Jin Sun-kyu and Gong Myung in a scene from Netflix movie "Husbands in Action. Courtesy of Netflix
The project marks a highly anticipated reunion between Jin and Gong, who previously starred together in the megahit comedy "Extreme Job" (2019), which attracted over 16 million audiences to become the third most-viewed domestic film in Korean box office history.
"I felt that Gong Myung had grown a great deal since our last project, and our mutual trust became much more solid during the filming," Jin said, adding that Gong responded fluidly to unexpected ad-libs during shoots.
"Working with Jin again after ‘Extreme Job’ was deeply meaningful to me, and going to the set every day made me feel incredibly happy," Gong said.
He dismissed concerns about potential overlap with their previous film, saying their relationship allowed them to come up with fresh comedy ideas from the beginning.
Kim, who plays a crime lord, said he collaborated with the costume team to design a stylish look filled with colorful outfits and diverse accessories to differentiate his character from other villains.
"My character is a drug lord who appears sly but possesses power, so I gained five kilograms," Kim said.
"Husbands in Action" will be available globally on Netflix Friday.