IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
A wimpy, incompetent bank clerk decides to become a pro wrestler.A wimpy, incompetent bank clerk decides to become a pro wrestler.A wimpy, incompetent bank clerk decides to become a pro wrestler.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 4 nominations total
Jang Hang-seon
- Jang Gwan-jang
- (as Hang-Seon Jang)
Jang Nam-yeol
- Cheong-wong
- (as Nam-yeol Jang)
- …
Kim Soo-ro
- Yoo Bi-ho
- (as Su-ro Kim)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Love the camera work, the 1st 10mins really sell the movie for me to hookup.
Like other commenter say, the downside of the movie is the final fight.
It's good but when they go full violence & stiff fight that's not good, I prefer if viewers that watch any wrestling movies know it's not fake but scripted but having 2 guys fight it for real is bad.
Anyway quite impressive because all the wrestlers are actually actors that's quite known in Korea, also the final boss is such a hunk back then I can't believe he actually have superb body thought he's just fat lazy villain these days😅 Solid 7/10, lacking storyline..what's the point of his other co worker with bank.
Can scrap that & just show the interaction with really terrible boss & viewers can relate & enjoy the movie more.
If they scrap that timewasting storyline & make the final fight be good vs evil in a really safe wrestling way this movie can easily be 9-10/10.
Like other commenter say, the downside of the movie is the final fight.
It's good but when they go full violence & stiff fight that's not good, I prefer if viewers that watch any wrestling movies know it's not fake but scripted but having 2 guys fight it for real is bad.
Anyway quite impressive because all the wrestlers are actually actors that's quite known in Korea, also the final boss is such a hunk back then I can't believe he actually have superb body thought he's just fat lazy villain these days😅 Solid 7/10, lacking storyline..what's the point of his other co worker with bank.
Can scrap that & just show the interaction with really terrible boss & viewers can relate & enjoy the movie more.
If they scrap that timewasting storyline & make the final fight be good vs evil in a really safe wrestling way this movie can easily be 9-10/10.
I purchased this movie based upon the recommendations of many people from different websites. Most of them claiming that the movie works well because its comedy is cross cultural.
I don't disagree that when the comedic elements are present - they work well. However, and this is a big however, they are few and far between. The movie fails for me because of its pacing. There is nothing really fantastic going on between the comedic moments. It's just filler material that tries to tell a story about the blandness of a man's life, and his interactions with his environment. It succeeds in showing why he would go into wrestling, but also succeeds in putting the viewer to sleep. I watched it once myself, and watched it again with friends. During the second viewing I had multiple requests to fast forward through dull, drawn-out scenes.
Don't get me wrong, I repeat, there are spectacular moments, but they are few and far between. Rent this or just don't even bother.
I don't disagree that when the comedic elements are present - they work well. However, and this is a big however, they are few and far between. The movie fails for me because of its pacing. There is nothing really fantastic going on between the comedic moments. It's just filler material that tries to tell a story about the blandness of a man's life, and his interactions with his environment. It succeeds in showing why he would go into wrestling, but also succeeds in putting the viewer to sleep. I watched it once myself, and watched it again with friends. During the second viewing I had multiple requests to fast forward through dull, drawn-out scenes.
Don't get me wrong, I repeat, there are spectacular moments, but they are few and far between. Rent this or just don't even bother.
I have seen Kang-ho Song in many films: Thirst; The Good, the Bad, the Weird; The Host; Sympathy for Lady Vengeance; Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance; Joint Security Area; Shiri; and now, The Foul King.
There is no doubt about his acting abilities, not of director Ji-woon Kim, who kept things moving and presented a good film.
It was a drama about a man that had no confidence in himself, and developed it only when he took up wrestling. Hiding behind a mask allowed him to be someone else. You can guess the eventual outcome.
It was funny at the same time. Unfortunately, it is not the humor that I especially enjoy. If there was an American remake, it would easily feature Adam Sandler - not a great recommendation.
There is no doubt about his acting abilities, not of director Ji-woon Kim, who kept things moving and presented a good film.
It was a drama about a man that had no confidence in himself, and developed it only when he took up wrestling. Hiding behind a mask allowed him to be someone else. You can guess the eventual outcome.
It was funny at the same time. Unfortunately, it is not the humor that I especially enjoy. If there was an American remake, it would easily feature Adam Sandler - not a great recommendation.
I enjoyed this comedy that deals with wrestling in Korea, and Kang-ho Song was perfect in this role. I couldn't think of any other actor that could have played this role better than he did. There is also some superhero elements in this where, when Im Dae-ho(Song Kang-ho) character becomes someone instead of the coward in the office when he wears the tiger mask. Not that the tiger mask gives him special abilities, but it gives him confidence in himself. The movie starts off kinda slow but when it picks up, it's pure entertainment from there on with some good humor that kept me laughing. Some may not enjoy this type of humor in a movie, but I enjoyed it a lot. I hope more films like this is made in the future, since Korea isn't known for making great comedies.
8.3/10
8.3/10
I watched this film in a park on my laptop, and ended up attracting crowds of people staring at the hysterically laughing foreigner. I figured after having already seen it once, it would be safe to try again as I was waiting on a bus, but the same unrestrained hysterics ensued. As soon as the bus stopped, I made a beeline for the first dvd shop and bought my own copy.
For a film about a masked wrestler, there is surprisingly little cheesiness to this film. We follow a downtrodden banker as he invests his self esteem in the sport, and first see it treated in a very realistic, everyday way, without dramatic music or camera angles and are allowed to see the inherent ridiculousness of it. As the film builds up, and becomes more stylized, it hasn't made a grand statement about wrestling, but allows it to be seen as reality.
With this, the fight sequences become one aspect, while the real heart of the movie are the Mr. Bean like physical comedy bits where the main character tries to get respect in his everyday life. While a few key scenes take place in the ring, the best bits are in the office, on the street or in the park. In tone, pacing and style of humor, I'd call this film the Office Space of Korean cinema.
For a film about a masked wrestler, there is surprisingly little cheesiness to this film. We follow a downtrodden banker as he invests his self esteem in the sport, and first see it treated in a very realistic, everyday way, without dramatic music or camera angles and are allowed to see the inherent ridiculousness of it. As the film builds up, and becomes more stylized, it hasn't made a grand statement about wrestling, but allows it to be seen as reality.
With this, the fight sequences become one aspect, while the real heart of the movie are the Mr. Bean like physical comedy bits where the main character tries to get respect in his everyday life. While a few key scenes take place in the ring, the best bits are in the office, on the street or in the park. In tone, pacing and style of humor, I'd call this film the Office Space of Korean cinema.
Did you know
- ConnectionsReferences Beavis and Butt-Head (1993)
- How long is The Foul King?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime
- 1h 52m(112 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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