When Park Bo Gum pitched Kim So Hyun a challenge years in the past, he in all probability knew Good Boy could be their excellent display screen comeback, an action-comedy loaded with fistfights, marking his post-military return. With heavy hitters like Lee Sang Yi, Heo Sung Tae, and Oh Jung Se on board, expectations had been excessive after When Life Offers You Tangerines, the place Bo Gum’s transient function nonetheless made him the discuss of the city. After watching two episodes of Good Boy, it’s clear this Ok-drama isn’t attempting to please everybody, particularly these used to the actor’s lover-boy picture. The present has sparked blended reactions, from grumbling about convoluted plots to complaints a few shaky, gradual begin. However right here’s why I believe it’s value sticking round for.
Park Bo Gum-Kim So Hyun starrer Good Boy plot
Surprisingly, Sim Na Yeon’s directorial doesn’t fairly comply with the synopsis teased throughout promotions. Given her previous hits like The Good Dangerous Mom and Second at Eighteen, taking part in it secure was by no means on the desk. With such a forged, a run-of-the-mill drama would’ve been a serious disappointment, and fortunately, this isn’t a type of. The story follows former nationwide athletes Yoon Dong Joo, Ji Ha Na, Kim Jong Hyun, Go Man Sik, and Shin Jae Hong, who be part of the police power by a particular recruitment coverage. Some selected this path; others, like our lead Park Bo Gum’s Dong Joo, a former boxing gold medalist falsely accused of utilizing banned substances, had been pushed into it. Collectively, they’re on a journey to showcase their athletic abilities to work towards criminals whereas coping with judgmental colleagues, corrupt officers, and a relentless struggle to serve justice the place it was denied. There’s a love triangle, initially seeming like a one-on-one between Ji Ha Na and Dong Joo, but it surely seems Ji Ha Na is the rationale why her former flame, Jong Hyun, joined the power. So, our hero is about to juggle yet one more drawback: a rival who’s simply as expert, and simply as good-looking.
Additionally learn: Park Bo Gum made a request to Kim So Hyun years in the past: ‘Keep in mind this when the time comes’; the story behind Good Boy casting
Good Boy forged efficiency
It’s a feel-good trip to see Bo Gum, who debuted almost 15 years in the past in thrillers like Blind, later delivered action-comedy punches in Runway Cop, Arduous Day, Bridal Masks and earlier than casually slipping into his soft-boy period, now return to his motion roots proper on the peak of his profession. His character in Good Boy is getting the side-eye, partly due to his current hit overshadowing issues a bit. Audiences are struggling to digest the comedic begin, pondering perhaps humorous simply isn’t his factor. Honest. However motion lands. And since Good Boy sticks to parts of crime, sports activities, romance, and good outdated friendship drama, Bo Gum matches proper in. Possibly comedy isn’t his strongest swimsuit, however the best way he throws a punch with grin, taking down 15 goons in a single go (felt extreme although) with a chiseled physique carved prefer it’s seen hours on the gymnasium, it’s onerous to recollect this is similar man who performed Gwan Sik, the soft-spoken husband from Tangerines with eyes dripped in love.
Additionally learn: Good Boy: After When Life Offers You Tangerines, Park Bo-gum returns as police officer tasked with taking down against the law syndicate
Kim So Hyun as Ji Ha Na was stable sufficient to persuade us that Bo Gum’s casting instincts had been spot on. Actually, it’s onerous to think about anybody else pulling off the function of a sharp-shooting athlete with that form of finesse. Her character’s daring and straight-up, so we’re not precisely relying on a 12-episode hand-hold or the traditional 16-episode kiss. What stings a bit is seeing Lee Sang Yi caught in a supporting function when his grounded appearing simply deserves lead standing. Oh Jung Se popped up within the ultimate ten minutes, however the best way the tone shifted, you may already inform the story’s heading someplace darker.
Regardless of a gradual, stretched-out begin that makes you need to hit pause and select a nap over the movie-length premiere, the tempo fortunately picks up not lengthy after. You may really feel the Western affect creeping in, from moodier visuals to the cinematic undertones, that’s a shift from the standard Ok-drama aesthetic. That stated, the thousand-cuts-per-minute digicam was a ache to observe. The comedy lands in components, however the over-the-top goofiness contained in the police station may’ve been toned down.
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Our Take
Good Boy might need gone a bit overboard attempting to juggle each style it may discover, and whereas the person performances are stable, it’s the chemistry between them that’s missing. Park Bo Gum and Heo Sung Tae’s mentor-protégé bond feels compelled at instances. And Bo Gum’s behaviour round Kim So Hyun’s character is borderline obsessive, unnecessarily pouty, and simply… meh. However simply if you’re about to roll your eyes, the present throws in a second, like Shin Jae Jong flinging a sewer lid prefer it’s the Olympics once more, or Han Na nailing a headshot mid-chaos. MAX’s OST sneaks in on the proper time and lifts the temper. There’s nonetheless extra to return from the remainder of the squad. The Prime video unique isn’t right here to race anybody, it’s right here to take its personal lane. Let’s see if it holds that floor in Episode 3.