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发表于 2011-1-4 05:53
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'Godfather' goes dumb and dumber
http://www.hancinema.net/-godfat ... -dumber--26924.html
Director-actor Shim Hyung-rae stars in a scene from "The Last Godfather", a parody of the Francis Ford Coppola film that is now shwoing in theaters. /Courtesy of CJ Entertainment
By Lee Hyo-won
Shim Hyung-rae puts aside his CG dragons for a trip down memory lane, resurrecting his trademark screen persona Younggu in his latest Hollywood endeavor. Since debuting in 1989, Shim's Younggu has featured in 19 comedy films, becoming a sort of "godfather" to borderline simpleton characters here. The director seems to have made a lifelong dream come true, starring opposite the likes of Harvey Keitel in "The Last Godfather".
Some things, however, are better left in the past.
The slapstick comedy can be generously described as a sort of Charlie Chaplin gone "Dumb and Dumber" to dumbest ― replete with physical farce and accidental heroism in the tradition of the black-and-white silent films, along with the grossness of the Jim Carrey franchise (in fact Mark Irwin, the cinematographer of "Dumb and Dumber" was behind the camera for the project).
The sight of watching a teary-eyed Keitel in a Francis Ford Coppola parody, hugging his so-called son Younggu ― a result of an affair with a Korean woman ― does certainly invite laughter. "He looks old enough to be your uncle's uncle", one character says about Shim, who turns 52 next Monday. Indeed, Younggu has gotten a little too old to play a character he pulled off 20 years ago, and so have his jokes. Despite the film's impressive production values, it unfortunately becomes muddled in outdated comedy sequences (though standup comedian John Pinette throws in some comic moments) and an awkward script (written by Shim and revised by "Toy Story's" Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow).
In 1950s New York ruled by Italian-American gangsters (immaculately brought to life by Cecilia Montiel and Graciela Mazon, who did set design and costumes, respectively, for "The Mask of Zoro"), mafia boss Don Carini (Keitel) announces his plans to retire. Just when everyone expects his right-hand man Tony V (Michael Rispoli, "Kick Ass") to follow in his footsteps, the don surprises everyone by revealing his successor: Younggu, a love child he had during a stint in Korea. After his lover died, his son was raised in an orphanage.
"He must be good-looking if he looks like you", one of Carini's men says. But Younggu is of course no Daniel Henney. Shim returns with his signature oafish grin complete with stained front teeth, but trades in his ill-fitting "hanbok" (Korean costume) and oversized rubber shoes for a Western equivalent that makes his silhouette look like that of Charlie Chaplin.
Carini tries to make up for 30 years of the fatherhood he missed out on (Younggu's room is decorated with teddy bears and the like), and asks Tony V to turn his son into gangster material. He finds it difficult to accept, however, that his son isn't exactly cut out for the role ― the clueless guy is bound to accept a chicken wing instead of collecting dues from the local butcher and falls in love with the rivaling Bonafante's lovely daughter Nancy (Joceline Donahue), compromising the family's authority.
Younggu tries to toughen up in order to impress his father, and he ends up becoming an accidental hero, as his mishaps spur new fashion trends and a culinary revolution. Meanwhile, Vinnie (Jason Mewes) of the Bonafante gang, kidnaps Nancy and frames Younggu for the deed, igniting a war between the feuding mafia families. What will happen to well-meaning protagonist?
Now showing in theaters. Distributed by CJ Entertainment.
Source : www.koreatimes.co.kr/... ( English Korean ) |
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发表于 2011-1-3 20:33
