Criteria for choosing a movie vary from person to person, but personally, I tend to prioritize works that my heart is drawn to rather than being swayed by others' evaluations or star ratings. Even if it is a movie that the majority of audiences ignore or pour harsh criticism upon, there may be a special point hidden within it that snipes my unique taste. The movie I Alone Prince, which I watched this time, was also a work that many people might hesitate to watch or pass by due to preconceptions and prejudices likely formed just by looking at the title or poster. However, after accidentally coming across the trailer in the theater, I was captivated by Lee Kwang-soo's expressions and the exotic scenery of Vietnam, leading me to a strong conviction that I must watch this movie regardless of others' views.
Lee Kwang-soo, the core and symbol of this movie, is called by the public by a very unique and symbolic nickname: "Asia Prince." This nickname was naturally born through the long-running variety program Running Man, which catapulted him to stardom, but the nuance within Korea is actually quite different. For domestic fans or the public, attaching the title "Prince" to Lee Kwang-soo is less of a serious compliment and closer to a sign of friendliness or a playful modifier to tease his variety show character. I, too, initially thought this nickname was merely an illusion close to a fabrication, created solely to caricature him or for the sake of entertainment fun.
However, upon learning that Running Man was gaining explosive popularity throughout Southeast Asia, and when the members actually visited the region for filming, I was finally able to realize the weight of that nickname. From the airport to every filming location, the cheers and enthusiasm pouring out toward Lee Kwang-soo were at a level that transcended imagination, and that popularity possessed an explosive power surpassing that of idol groups. I came to realize that the nickname "Asia Prince" was never an exaggeration or a tease, but a strict reality and fact locally. Although he began to make his face known to the public through sitcoms, it must be evaluated that it was clearly the power of variety shows that raised him to the ranks of a true Hallyu star.
Although Lee Kwang-soo has steadily built his filmography as an actor, the image of the "Icon of Betrayal" or "Klutz" solidified through Running Man was so intense that it acted as a double-edged sword in his acting career. Eventually, he made the major decision to step down from the variety program he had been part of for a long time in order to focus more on his main profession of acting. However, one regrettable point was that he seemed to be attempting an overly intentional acting transformation to erase the pleasant and light image built up in variety shows. Looking at his works during that period, there was a strong tendency to choose somewhat artificial antagonists, villains, or excessively heavy roles to wipe away the familiarity embedded in the public's mind.
In my personal opinion, those roles where he put too much strength into his shoulders often felt more awkward than the natural appearance he showed in variety shows. While I do not know what strategic judgment the actor himself made when selecting works, watching an actor who shines brightest when performing daily, comfortable acting forcibly make scary faces gave the audience a somewhat uncomfortable feeling. In that context, the role he played in this movie, I Alone Prince, was the best casting, like a "custom-made suit," where he could lay down the compulsions he had held onto and radiate the charm most unique to Lee Kwang-soo.
As can be inferred from the movie's title, "Kang Jun-woo," played by Lee Kwang-soo, is a top star who enjoys tremendous popularity in the setting. He is depicted as an influential figure with a massive fandom, holding fan meetings not only in Korea but also in Vietnam, and even filming local commercials. However, the movie does not portray him merely as a cool star; it depicts him as a multi-dimensional character who is somewhat intoxicated by success, has fallen into mannerisms, and possesses a slight arrogance and precariousness, believing he is the best in the world. This setup serves as a device to make the subsequent events more dramatic and acts as an element that maximizes Lee Kwang-soo's unique, unhateable "bluffing" acting.
The full-scale events of the movie begin when Kang Jun-woo misses his flight from Vietnam back to Korea and is left alone. The situation of a top star left all alone in the unfamiliar land of Vietnam, where he cannot even speak the language, without a single manager or staff member who always guarded his side, induces interesting suspense and comedy in itself. To make matters worse, all he had was a small amount of cash in his wallet, a mobile phone, and a luxury watch on his wrist. In the early part of the movie, it shows the sense to place kind episodes so that Korean audiences, who are unfamiliar with the Vietnamese currency unit "Dong," can intuitively understand how much the money he has is worth.
In particular, the scene revealing that the 50,000 Dong he possesses is a small amount, barely enough to buy a single cup of juice, evokes a pitiful laugh. From this point on, the audience naturally converts the prices presented in the movie into Korean Won values and becomes more immersed in the protagonist's plight. The scene where Kang Jun-woo, in desperate need of money, tries to pawn his luxury watch but gives up and turns away because the owner offers an absurdly low price of 2 million Dong, humorously depicts the conflict between a star's pride and survival instincts. In the midst of this, the movie faces a new phase as he becomes entangled with the female protagonist, "Tao" (played by Hwang Ha), at a restaurant he stopped by.
Due to an unexpected commotion at the restaurant, Kang Jun-woo's only lifeline, his mobile phone, breaks due to Tao's mistake, and a situation arises where he inevitably has to stay in Vietnam for three more days to repair it. From this point, the movie takes on the form of a road movie depicting the chaotic companionship between the arrogant top star Kang Jun-woo and Tao, who is diligently working part-time locally with dreams of becoming a barista. The journey of three days experienced by Kang Jun-woo, who fell from a star receiving flashy spotlights to a penniless commoner in an instant, together with Tao, who runs toward her dream, becomes a process of understanding each other's worlds beyond simple physical movement.
In a way, one could criticize it as a development that follows the obvious cliché of a romantic comedy where bickering turns into affection, but I actually found the comfortable fun provided by that familiarity to be quite significant. Although I was the only audience member in the theater, as the movie progressed towards the latter half, moving points that touched the heart beyond simple comedy came alive, and my immersion increased further. I fell deeply into the movie to the point where my eyes turned slightly red at the touching emotions that came after the laughter, and Lee Kwang-soo proved his true worth as an actor once again by excellently digesting not only comic acting but also serious emotional acting.
Vietnamese actress Hwang Ha, who played the counterpart Tao, possessed the mask of a typical Vietnamese beauty, adding reality and lovely charm to the movie. Initially, I expected it to be a simple comedy movie for killing time, but the sweetness unique to romantic comedies and the growth of the characters blended well, giving me satisfaction beyond expectations. It is said that it was released in Vietnam in October, earlier than in Korea. Although I hear news that the overall ratings are low or there are harsh reviews, for me, it will be remembered as the most unexpected discovery and a work that gave me joy among the movies I watched this year. It was I Alone Prince, a movie that once again confirmed the joy of choosing a film by trusting one's own feelings rather than others' evaluations.
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