Bear Man (2023)

Just a nice movie

Directed by comedian Park Sung-kwang, this is played for laughs, but as such all ideas feel half-baked, with no one really putting in the effort. It feels a throwback to 90s US comedies, where all characters are caricatures, rather than rounded individuals. As such, you struggle to really feel much for any of them. The plot is rushed and glosses over details, and you spend the whole film knowing which way this will go.

There isn't much here that hasn't been done before, with the main focus being on how its lead is a bit slow. Park is suitably gormless as Woong-nam, but doesn't offer a huge amount as Yung-hak, with the supporting cast hamming it up a little too much in parts. Woong-nam's mannerisms feel straight out of the Stephen Chow school of “Kung-fu Hustle”, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but is unoriginal a couple of decades along; as is the “Drunken Master” parody.

And this is “Bear Man's” problem. The comedy, story and special effects largely belong back in the 90s, and feel very outdated in this day and age. They do produce some laughs, but they're hidden in some very simplistic comedy; and Yung-hak's take down does have some good fight choreography, while also providing some of the film's stronger comedy moments.
If there is anything new on offer here, it is the comment of how Mal-bong's social media is a greater news source than mainstream media, with the police reliant on it. But this fails to place itself as a central theme, and so is perhaps incidental rather than social commentary.

You can grow into this as it progresses, and it's entertaining enough, but is very limited by its own lack of effort. It puts in little, so asks little of you in return. Popcorn fodder? Yes. But you can find much better options out there.

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