A Comedy That Makes You Laugh Without Being Formulaic: Review & a Look at the Press Conference for

There's that old saying about an empty cart making the most noise. But 〈Wild Thing〉 seems to be the exception. I didn't expect it to be this entertaining. In an era when promotional content functions as a meme, how often have pre-release promos and trailers been more entertaining than the film itself?

However, 〈Wild Thing〉, which built a 'Triangle' fandom known as the 'Red-Green-Blue Brigade' even before its release with its inventive trailer and music video, is a movie that's actually more enjoyable in the theater than its promotional materials. With unexpected developments, the film races from start to finish, running so hilariously it can leave you bewildered.

The film 〈Wild Thing〉, opening on June 3, is an unexpected crime-action road movie. It's a well-constructed farce about a once-chart-topping three-member mixed dance group called 'Triangle' who literally race to put on a single comeback performance 20 years later. Every summer there are comedies aimed at making audiences laugh from start to finish, but it's rare to find one with such a high laugh rate.

The movie's bigger achievement is that it makes the audience laugh in an unconventional way. 〈Wild Thing〉 focuses more on situational irony than on snappy dialogue typical of comedies, and with unforeseen twists, it steers clear of the predictable path of ordinary comedies. Following their frantic, ambition-fueled run through car chases and alleged crime schemes, you soon find yourself rooting for 'Triangle' and Seong-gon (Oh Jung-se). Its relentlessly wild momentum may polarize viewers, but there's no doubt it's a strange, crazy movie.

On the 18th, at Lotte Cinema World Tower, a press and distributor screening and press conference for 〈Wild Thing〉 were held. Director Son Jae-gon and actors Kang Dong-won, Um Tae-goo, Park Ji-hyun, and Oh Jung-se watched the film with the press and answered questions.

Director Son Jae-gon, who has showcased startling imagination and sharp humor through 〈Sweet, Deadly Lovers〉, 〈The Villain Upstairs〉, and 〈It Doesn't Hurt〉, presented a unique genre in this work that blends comedy, action, and music. Regarding this, Son said, "I wanted to break away from the line-driven, relationship-focused limits typical of comedy films and try something more colorful that audiences can enjoy more in theaters."

Meanwhile, 〈Wild Thing〉 is a lively, refreshing comedy, but it also offers heartfelt comfort to adults who have experienced failure. Regarding the line in the film, "Are there only three chances in life?", the director said, "I've never made a movie to convey a theme or message. The only criterion for me has always been, 'Would this be fun?'" He added, "As I've gotten older, the idea that you only get three chances in a lifetime felt so disappointing and cruel. So I thought this line could naturally offer comfort and a message to the audience," subtly hinting at the warm theme embedded in the film.

Kang Dong-won, who plays Hyun-woo, the leader and dance machine of 'Triangle', delivers the most daring performance of his career. He even performs a headspin himself, giving an all-out, physically demanding performance. Kang said, "The headspin is a very important scene in this movie. It's a key moment that symbolizes Hyun-woo's dream continuing, so I practiced diligently."

Um Tae-goo's comic acting is also exceptional. Widely known as one of the entertainment industry's most famous introverts, he displays intense swag in the film. Playing Sang-gu, the zero-presence youngest member turned failed solo rapper, Um said, "The most difficult part was the stage performance scenes. I'm not a singer, so I had to fight by putting myself in a kind of self-hypnosis in front of so many people," reflecting on playing a member of an idol group.

Meanwhile, Park Ji-hyun, who radiates 'irresistible charm' as Domi, the center of 'Triangle', fully understood the gestures and stage movements unique to idols and fully realized the persona of a 'performance queen' on par with current idols. Park said, "I paid homage to the styles of icons from our generation—like Lee Hyo-ri of Fin.K.L—and I wanted to bring both freshness and sexiness at the same time," explaining her process of building the character.

Oh Jung-se, who plays Seong-gon—the ill-fated balladeer who held the unique record of being #2 for 39 consecutive weeks and later became a reclusive wild boar hunter in the mountains 20 years on—delivers the essence of comic acting. Oh summarized his character Seong-gon in one sentence: "Seong-gon is a character filled with desperation," and explained, "During vocal training I learned breathing exercises using a straw. I liked it so much that I bought three bundles of straws at a convenience store to practice breathing, and I wanted to show Seong-gon holding a straw in his mouth and practicing his breathing throughout the scene where he is on the move toward the stage. I tried to continuously find Seong-gon's small but tenacious desperation," describing how he fleshed out the character.

The film 〈Wild Thing〉 opens on June 3.