Deservedly popular Korean (comic) police actioner (two sequels already) with Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee) again playing detective Ma Seok-do, currently under a restraining order for excessive violence, but charging into his next case for a quick career-redeeming win. Here he’s after some vicious ex-pat Korean criminals, now working scams in Vietnam where they prey on Korean tourists. But even the worst of the worst can go too far and these guys now find themselves under attack by the gangster father of one of their kidnap victims. For Detective Lee (and his superior who’s joined him on the hunt in Vietnam) it means he’s fending off opponents on three-fronts: Ultra-violent kidnapers; ultra-powerful mob guys; and the cops (Korean and Vietnamese) trying to reel him in. Director Sang-yong ain’t going for subtlety, but sure gets his laughs, as much from character as from tonnage; with plenty of gross-out gore and martial arts choreography to pair with the film’s wonderful line-up of eccentric personalities.* And Don Lee is the real deal in action comedy. With fast moves and bulky frame, you really believe in this one-man wrecking crew, a combo platter of Jackies Chan and Gleason. (Because of fairly realistic violence, this rates a 13 & Up Family Friendly Label.)
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *Look out for the Gangster’s Wife #2. A woman who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. And note how much of the action (knife battles and vehicular mayhem), are done for real and not made ridiculous thru CGI overkill.
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