Speedy Scandal (aka Speed Scandal aka Scandal Makers) leaked online, and I watched it. Without subtitles, too, so I understood about 2% of the dialogue. Even untranslated it's great, like Jerry Maguire without the irritating parts (so…not like Jerry Maguire at all).
Spoilers & screen caps after the jump.
The opening credits establish Nam Hyun-Soo (Cha Tae-Hyun) as a comfortable bachelor. He's got the aquarium, the high-end stereo, the shelves of expensive beauty products, and the pre-made breakfasts arranged by weekday. His home and life are pristine, with white furnishings, zero clutter, and no surprises.
Which, according to movie cliché, means it will all be destroyed:
But I'm jumping ahead. After the opening credits, we see Hyun-Soo at his day job: he's a former idol turned popular radio host and CF star. He's also a jerk, and at one point practically flings a small child away from him after the cameras stop rolling.
So when Hwang Jung-Nam & her son Ki-Dong show up at his door claiming to be his daughter & grandson, Hyun-Soo is, shall we say, not enthused. Not just because he's comfortable with his life as it is, but they've also managed to interrupt his booty call. Things go from bad to worse, and in the end, Jung-Nam blackmails him into letting them stay the night.
The next morning, Hyun-Soo demands a paternity test. One of Hyun-Soo's old idol band mates (now a veterinarian) performs the test, and the results come back positive: Hyun-Soo is officially a grandfather.
Now Hyun-Soo can't kick the kids out, as miserable as it makes him. He drowns his sorrows in drink (only to wake up in a compromising position with Jung-Nam), then treats Jung-Nam & Ki-Dong only slightly better than the stepmother treated Cinderella.
By coincidence (and to Hyun-Soo's chagrin), Jung-Nam is in an amateur singing contest sponsored by Hyun-Soo's radio station. When it's her time to perform, she hesitates; Hyun-Soo's sure she'll bomb, and even giggles at the prospect. But then she starts singing "아마도 그건", and everyone's jaws drop. Even Hyun-Soo is impressed.
Afterwards at home, Hyun-Soo's attitude does a 180 (okay, more like a 90), and the three reach an uneasy truce. I like that Hyun-Soo's change of heart comes because his offspring is really, really talented (instead of the hoary near-death experience). His character's more consistent that way, since he's still being selfish (i.e."those are my genes!").
More stuff happens, most of it fun, none of it surprising. Hyun-Soo takes his grandson to day care, and falls for his grandson's teacher (then subsequently bribes his grandson to spy on said teacher, above, one of my favorite parts). The grandson Ki-Dong, played by cutie Wang Seok-Hyun, turns out to be a piano prodigy. Jung-Nam advances further in the radio contest, and both Jung-Nam & Ki-Dong get makeovers.
We meet Jung-Nam's first love, who's trying to win her back; as soon as he tells her "I love you," though, he catches her going home with Hyun-Soo, and gets the wrong idea. I like the ex's insane clumsiness; the physical humor is nice, and it shows us how Jung-Nam got pregnant (because if anyone can break a condom, it's that guy).
The titular "scandal" then breaks, and almost as quickly dies with a whimper. In a nice twist, it turns out no one really cares about Nam Hyun-Soo: reporters abandon his press conference when a brawl breaks out in the next room. So Hyun-Soo keeps doing radio & CFs, Ki-Dong keeps being adorable, Jung-Nam keeps singing, Jung-Nam's oppa keeps trying to win her back, and the movie ends with one of the most overused songs in cinema history.
Everything about the movie
is done well: the music works, the pacing never drags, there's
angst but not too much (the "scandal" of the title is nothing but a blip). The camera
work is bright and witty, though not ambitious like Antique's. The plot is nothing special; it's the strong characters & acting (particularly by the three leads) make it stand out.
Park Bo-Young won a Baeksang for her performance as Jung-Nam, and I see why. She seamlessly transitions from death stares (above) to sweet vulnerability to husky hysteria (when Ki-Dong goes missing). She also lip syncs well (I've heard she actually sings some songs, but I'm not sure which). I wish I understood her arguments with Cha Tae-Hyun, though, as they are epic.
One thing that needs no translation: Wang Seok-Hyun's fluffy adorableness. I normally dislike child actors who act cute, but Wang Seok-Hyun has baby pama power. You cannot resist it (it also helps that he doesn't talk much).
Finally, there's Cha Tae-Hyun, who makes a surprisingly likable man-child. He has a face for comedy: he only has to raise his eyebrows and purse his lips, and I crack up (he also looks exactly like one of my female coworkers, which may be part of it). I also enjoyed how unapologetically bratty his character is: he pitches fits, punches people, & has petty arguments with children, all without a trace of shame. Even better, he doesn't mature much by the end, befitting his age & character.
Watch it: Speedy Scandal is currently on YouTube without subs. Given the American remake (see the previous post), we may eventually get a limited subbed theatrical release in the U.S. and/or a Region 1 DVD release. YesAsia has the soundtrack for $13, but the official DVD release isn't out yet.
