Fantasia Film Festival 2023 ‘Killing Romance Review A Korean Comedy Bursting At The Seams With Preposterousness
The love story of the South Korean musical romantic comedy "Battle" is too intense, too long, and too complicated to be explained anywhere. However, seeing everything that is presented to you, you at least understand who you are.
Hwang Yeo Rae (Lee Honey) is an actress and showbiz superstar. She set the world record for the most soda drink and starred in a seemingly endless number of commercials and films thanks to her fans. After 11 years in an entertainment network and the poor reception of her latest film, Yoo-rae decides to take a break from filming in Seoul and vacation on the tropical island of Kuala Lumpur.
Gong Myung in the Korean romantic comedy Love Killing. Property of Warner Bros. Images.
On the island of Kuala Yo-Rei, she meets Jonathan Na (Lee Sung-kyung), a real estate developer, environmentalist, animal rights activist and just a wealthy man. They got married and after seven years the couple returned to Seoul. As he keeps failing his Seoul University entrance exams, he moves in with superfan Yoo Rae Kim Beo (Gong Myung) for another four years at a college prep (which allows him to talk to animals).
Due to Jonathan's overconfidence and his strangely controlling nature, Yo-ra's hatred for him reaches the point where she plans to kill her husband. Yu Re finally confronts Byo Woo about his student's obsession with his unification work to kill Jonathan. As you can imagine, Beom Woo is as good as an assassin as he is a student.
Whatever the funniest comedy you've ever seen, Killer Affair will probably win it. This is a film that throws everything up against the wall and already adds another dose of spontaneity; All before you see if it is blocked or not. The mere mention of using CGI will be bewildering. Visuals from the film include a computer-generated boot that flies through the air, a tea box that uses a straw as a helicopter propeller, and an ostrich taking off.
Interestingly, the entire film is narrated by an elderly woman on the bus. Killing Love is the thirteenth episode of Debbie's Reading Bus, in which an old English-speaking woman with glasses appears intermittently, making it more random than it seems.
Lee Sun Gyun in the romantic comedy Murder Romance. Property of Warner Bros. Images.
Much of the humor in the film lies on Lee Sang Kyung's shoulders, especially the character Jonathan. He looks like the King of the Jerks - a very funny actor - but he also plays Kuzco's live version of The Emperor's New Groove hilariously. Jonathan himself, with a false beard and numerous portraits in which he is naked and badly torn, is full of glory. You'll be addicted to her catchphrase, "gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo he plays jonathan and it shows - the character is awesome.
Killing Romance also has a weird musical aspect that starts out weird and ends up hooking you. The Yoo Rae Fan Club, of which Beom Woo is a member, emotionally creates the theme song that they sing over and over again in the film. It's the ultimate online battle karaoke and definitely one of the craziest things you'll see in movies this year.
Andrew Pope, Lee Sung Gyun and Lee Haney starred in the romantic comedy Murder Romance. Property of Warner Bros. Images.
The movie might be about killing someone you hate, but it's so stupid and heartless that you can't take it seriously. Killing Love is filled with humor and general randomness. Using strong F-words would probably get an R rating easily, but the movie is so disgusting you'll forget about it.
The first way they tried to kill Jonathan was by inviting him to a public bath to try and find the sauna recordings of his sweat. Jonathan falls easily due to his big ego and high competitive spirit. When that doesn't work, Yu-Rae and Bim-Woo try to find a peanut allergy, but fail.
Lee Honey in the Korean romantic comedy Love Killing. Property of Warner Bros. Images.
Romantic murders are so full of lies that you really have to see it to believe it. The movie synopsis will give you an idea of what to expect until you see it with your own eyes.
When it comes to musical romcoms about murder and ostriches, Killing Romance is about as crazy and brilliant as can be.
Next: The 2023 Fantasia Film Festival review of River is a hilarious comedy with a time loop.
Deadly Love Movie Review - Korean Comedy Premonition at Fantasia 2023
benefit
- Jonathan is very funny.
- This is one of the craziest and stupidest movies you will ever see.
- The music itself is quite catchy.
Indecent
- The fast-paced, laid-back narrative takes several viewings to get the hang of it.
7.5 Total score
