Released on June 19, Netflix's action-comedy "Husbands in action" tells the story of an ex-husband and an ex-husband who are forced to cooperate to rescue a wife kidnapped by a criminal organization.
This is the latest work of director Park Gyu Tae, who previously directed the comedy "Suddenly Winning the Lottery".
In particular, "Husbands in action" attracted attention from before its release, because this is a work marking the reunion of two actors Jin Sun Kyu and Gong Myung since the 139.6 billion won box office movie "Extreme job" in 2019.
However, according to Korean media, "Husbands in action" is controversial and many opinions say that the film has not met expectations.
The initial idea of the film is considered quite attractive, with the ex-husband Choong Sik (Jin Sun Kyu) and the current husband Min Seok (Gong Myung) being forced to cooperate with each other, which can create many interesting situations. However, the film has never fully exploited that potential.
The biggest weakness lies in the way characters are built and the motivation of the story. The characters are all quite one-sided, while the relationships are too simple.
The two husbands are stuck in the old-fashioned motif: hating each other without a truly convincing reason.
Meanwhile, the conflict surrounding a new drug gang and the Yonggang gang creates a feeling of being too familiar.
The film is based on the outdated contrast between a modern criminal organization applying new methods and an old-style gang that still clings to traditional methods. As a result, the characters lose their individuality and only exist as tools serving the plot.
In terms of comedy films, the work also disappoints with outdated wordplay, along with an exaggerated acting style trying to create laughter but completely failing to meet the expectations of modern audiences.
The character Yonggang played by Yoon Kyung Ho is a clear proof of the humorous limitations of the film. The image of an old-fashioned gangster with ostentatious behavior may have been effective in comedy films a few decades ago, but now it has become more awkward and annoying than funny.
The film constantly tries to create laughter through unreasonable situations and exaggerated dialogues, but rarely really makes the audience laugh.
The story structure is also not highly appreciated. The rescue process is lengthy, but the content has no progress.
An artificial intelligence program considered extremely valuable plays the central role of the entire storyline, but the film does not adequately explain why it is so important.
The motives of drug lord Do Jun (Kim Ji Seok) and his wife Hye Ran (Lee Da Hee), who are willing to do everything to protect this program, are still vague and unconvincing.
Lacking a solid foundation, the chase in the center of the story also loses most of the tension and emotion.
The ending of the film goes in an easy-to-guess direction. The fact that people who are not related to each other overcome adversity, resolve conflicts in the past and become a family is too safe and stereotypical.
The most regrettable thing is that "Husbands in action" has all the necessary elements for success: an interesting premise and a talented cast, but the result is a bland product.
The problem is not only in this film alone, but also raises serious questions about Netflix's content selection process. As this platform continues to expand its work library, audiences cannot help but wonder whether quantity is gradually being prioritized over quality.
