The Wonderful Christmas Movie: The Korean Film 'Switch'

Life is a series of choices. Hello, this is Junpu.

I watched 'Switch' at a film screening hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Japan.

A 2023 film starring Kwon Sang-woo and Oh Jung-se. It is a fantasy comedy where a popular star, Park Gang (Kwon Sang-woo), experiences the other life he didn't choose.

Since it was chosen as a Christmas season screening, I figured it would be a heartwarming film. While I usually prefer more stimulating movies, I applied with high expectations, knowing that with Kwon Sang-woo and Oh Jung-se, it couldn't go wrong.

I finished work and slipped into the venue about 10 minutes before the start, taking a seat in the second row. It was unreserved seating and the back was already full, so I was worried about getting a stiff neck, but once it started, I didn't notice anything at all.

I wonder if it's fair to call it a remake of Nicolas Cage's 'The Family Man.' It's not officially stated, though. It's a body-swap story where the protagonist suddenly starts living another life one day, and his longtime friend and former manager, Jo Yoon (Oh Jung-se), has become the top star.

The premise itself is a bit cliché, and having a taxi driver as a guide to another life is something we've seen in 'Marry My Husband' or the Japanese show 'Suteki na Sen TAXI.' While it's a story we've seen somewhere before, it's packed with delightful nods for fans of Korean entertainment, and the casting is a real treat. I recognized the taxi driver by his voice, too!

Kwon Sang-woo was, as always, showing off his muscles. I laughed at his shirtless scene right at the beginning. There were also persistent self-deprecating jokes about 'Sad Love Story,' as well as jokes about Lee Byung-hun. This is because Lee Min-jung, who plays his partner Soo-hyun, is Lee Byung-hun's wife.

In the 'other life,' he is married to Soo-hyun, the lover he broke up with for his own success, and a lively life with their twin children awaits him. As an actor, Gang can't seem to escape from reenactment dramas and stage roles. It was interesting to see him obsess over his acting in the reenactment dramas, but his work ethic and success story after becoming the manager for Yoon, who is now the top actor, were very satisfying. Even though he had the experience from his first life, he was a character with great vitality.

It was a peaceful movie with no villains. Maybe a Christmas like this is nice, too.

◆ Kwon Sang-woo