Reviewed By-Paul Cooke
Director : Cho Jin-Kyu
Producer : Shu Se-Won
Starring : Shun Eun-Kyuong , Park Sang-Myun & Ahn Jae- Mo

Mix together a reluctant romance with an infusion of violence , both in the cute form of female lead star Shin Eun Kyung , and what you get is quite possibly the very first Korean Chick Kick Flick. Opening with the frenetic grace of an MTV produced video and then hyper vaulting into a sublimely choreographed state of the art fight against the odds , you enter a movie that in its opening two minutes delivers what most movie previews fail to show during their encapsulated entirety.

Two girls are separated at a young age , Yu Jin and her younger sister Eun Jin as played by Shin Eun Kyung , who grows up to become the right hand Big Brother to a gangster boss in the Korean equivalent of the Yakuza. As Big Brother she is revered as a champion fighter of the martial arts and head of a respectful , yet boisterous gang of male underlings keen to please and impress her. Eun Jin’s persona is coarse and stubborn with a countenance that commands esteem , yet when she is reunited with her long lost sister her outlook on the world around her begins to change. The revelation from doctors that Yu Jin is dying from cancer clearly moves her , and when big sister asks her to find a husband before she dies her life is from that moment changed.

The blend of humour is well worked into proceedings as this hardened female boss sends her devoted male entourage to seek out a suitable candidate , and herself goes through various intensive treatments to help blossom her womanly wiles.

Enter Kang Su-il a thirty five year old portly civil servant as played by co-star Park Sang Myun , a man of old school values who steps in to assist Eun Jin when she is squaring off against two street thugs , as he sees it as an assault on a lady and chivalrously tries to save her. He seems to fit the bill and soon a whirlwind arranged wedding is on the cards. Whilst Eun Jin prepares for her foray into romance all the while her Yakuza lifestyle continues , and members from the rival White Shark gang constantly attempt to take her life. The manner in which she goes about her normal daily routine goes unnoticed by her husband to be , and even upon their wedding day when gang members fight up above in the public gallery at the chapel he innocently accepts logical excuses from his bride. These moments of levity are wonderfully rationalised and never fall into the silly bracket , but indeed provide a very well balanced injection of mirth that enhance the entertainment value no end.

The humour is not one sided in its delivery as indeed an unexpected moment in which Eun Jin’s right hand man is relaxing at an indoor water spa proves to be surprising as well as shockingly amusing. A group of friends tomfoolery gets a little out of hand and the relaxing gangster steps into the same bath as the offending protagonist , revealing his tattooed back of Yakuza standing detailed upon his back. The group grovel for forgiveness and the tattooed man calmly pulls his wig from his head to reveal a large metal plate , the kind that is shined up real nice and reflects an image in , and then proceeds to throw his hair piece into the water at the cowling man. The retained steely look upon the face of the intimidating figure is classic in comparison to that of the humbled fellow , who most hilariously grabs the wig and proceeds to wash it for him.

The bloody bursts of violence are spontaneous and often very bloody in delivery with fights breaking out amongst gang members , who think nothing of charging at each other with an array of weaponry. Implements include favoured accoutrements such as bats , mini axes and scissors , as well as the reliable availability of a handy two by four.

As Eun Jin struggles to form a relationship with the bemused Kang Su-il her sister slips ever closer to death , she beseeches her younger kin to have a baby to bring her closer to her husband whom she considers a good man to care for. The resulting conversation leads to much merriment providing several moments of fun encounters. In an attempt to play the part of a homely wife Eun Jin provides a lavish home spread for her husbands work colleagues as provided by a phone call to professional caterers. When Kang Su-il’s boss brings his son along the boys introduction to Eun Jin is classic as he asks her to assist with school work. Upon asking her ‘What is the right expression for a police man ?’ she responds ‘A pig’ to which after a moments silence the guests laugh at , but when the lad continues ‘But it’s three words’ they are left aghast when she retorts ‘Donut munching Bastard’s’.

All the while and very much in the proximity is the arbitrary presence of The White Shark gang and its Patriarchal leader , who behoves a menacing swagger and his very own descendant cat of James Bond arch rival Ernst Blofeld. When Big Brother’s gang learn of the death of one of their members they mount an offensive onslaught upon the rival turf terrorists and Eun Jin is torn from her stabilised home life to join the fray , arriving late and pregnant with child. With her fellow members sprawled at her feet and several dozen opposing antagonists staring her down the scenario is bleak , what follows is a stunning set piece fight sequence that is up there with the best that Asian cinema can muster. Marvel in a body stunt assault of sheer ferocious energy that even the great Yuen Woo Ping would be proud to be associated with. With such overwhelming odds can even the vaunted talents of Eun Jin overcome the might of The White Sharks ?.

The unravelling finale brings it all together in a spectacularly uplifting manner as husband Kang Su-il heats things up for the opposition as well as igniting his true love , and new found acceptance for what his wife represents. The movie ends on such a slick moment of comic book brought to life styling and editing you’ll ultimately be left with such an upbeat high. This is a great date movie that will please both guy and gal as an unlikely love story unravels with a humourous vein , laced with tragic moments and intermittent moments of strong violence thrown in. Add an addictive soundtrack that will bounce around in your head right through the end credits and it all adds up to a violently fun filled flick that is hip , slick and very chic.