Seoul Searching uses a trusty America formula for crude and silly comedies: a bunch of misfits are forced into a summer school where they start off misbehaving and end up sorting out their deep-seeded issues (especially parental resentment). But it takes place on a backdrop of Korean history, as the country transformed from a battle-bruised state bent on industriousness into a generation that's more welcoming to Western culture. It's filled with characters who have distinctly Korean complexes, takingon stereotypical "Breakfast Club" roles with the fun twist of being Korean kids who picked up their personalities as the ungrateful children of immigrants.
The movie is silly, over-the-top, full of tropes, and shoehorns drama in with little subtlety. Yet it manages to be very funny and full of heart. It'll be especially meaningful to anyone from a Korean background or who knows something about Korean culture.
The movie is silly, over-the-top, full of tropes, and shoehorns drama in with little subtlety. Yet it manages to be very funny and full of heart. It'll be especially meaningful to anyone from a Korean background or who knows something about Korean culture.