It’s remarkable how far South Korean cinema has come, to the extent that it is capable of rivalling the likes of Hollywood and Bollywood.
To wit, “Confidential Assignment 2: International” has been making headlines in Seoul thanks to its resounding success at the box office, having thus far raked in over US$35 million (RM160 million).
Set some time after the events of the first film that was released in 2017, director Lee Seok-hoon’s latest effort reunites police officers Kang Jin-Tae (Yu Hae-Jin) and Im Chul-Ryung (Hyun-Bin).
These two, however, aren’t any ordinary pair of cops – heck, they aren’t even from the same country. Im, as it turns out, is an officer from neighbouring North Korea. Odd couple alert!
This time around, the duo are on the hunt for Jin Sun-Kyu (Jang Myung-Joon), a ruthless drug lord who has been leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
To complicate matters, the Americans show up – or rather, one American in the form of Jack (Daniel Henney), an FBI agent.
With three officers from three countries all after the same guy, hijinks ensue, with explosions and gunfights aplenty.
Despite what one might expect from someone of the hermit kingdom, Im is very much a pragmatic (not to mention attractive) fellow who doesn’t go around yelling about “capitalist dogs”.
And, while unused to the modernity of South Korea, he remains civil, albeit secretive, and actually watches his partner’s back.
Kang, on the other hand, is a henpecked family man who is competent at his work despite what his outward appearance might bely.
The bromance between them is a comedic highlight. Actors Yu and Hyun work off each other well, with Kang being the funny man and Im the straight one.
Their interactions give off the impression that they are best friends on vacation together, rather than two officers from ideologically opposed countries on a joint assignment.
At its core, “Confidential Assignment 2” is a buddy-cop flick, and it does what these films do best: have fun. To that end, the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, with numerous humorous instances to lighten the mood.
In the first half, an undercover and hungry Kang is told by his colleagues that they have no food to share. Moments later, while Kang is clinging on to a car for dear life, he sees them slurping away from cups of hot noodles.
Another hilarious gag involves Kang’s sister-in-law, Park Min-Young (Lim Yoon-A), who is completely smitten with Im. She does everything she can to draw his gaze – until Agent Jack shows up, from which point she can hardly decide who is more attractive.
It’s then revealed Jack is half-Korean and can speak a smattering of the language. Cue the swoons all round.
That said, this film is not entirely a comedy, if the number of action sequences that make up the two-hour runtime is any indication. Once the bullets start flying, the heroes have to get to work very quickly.
In fact, one of the first few scenes involves a gunfight that takes place in the middle of New York, when Jin makes his escape from Jack. The action might not be particularly revolutionary, but it certainly adds thrills to an already entertaining movie.
So, what’s the verdict? A competent film through and through, “Confidential Assignment” is a reminder that good buddy-cop flicks still exist, and are as enjoyable as classics such as “Rush Hour”.
Whether you’re on your own or with a mismatched buddy, you can be assured of an afternoon at the cinema filled with laughs and high-speed action.
‘Confidential Assignment 2: International’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.