In a frighteningly complex web of movie scenarios, a straightforward plot often works better, especially when the cast is wisely chosen and actors perform to their full potential.
And no Korean film actor is more capable than Ahn Seong-gi, who debuted, as a child, 50 years ago, and is still doing superb work. Ahn is one of the icons of Korean cinema, and his skills honed over the decades, and reflected in his gracefully shaped wrinkles, shine in "My New Partner".
The movie, directed by Kim Jong-hyeon, involves two cops -- old and new -- and Ahn plays the experienced one who knows how to strike a compromise with the mundane world. This set-up inevitably reminds viewers of Ahn's role in "Two Cops", a 1993 comedy in which he played a slightly corrupt yet likable cop in conflict with his new partner, a young and justice-obsessed newbie.
"My New Partner" follows a similar track. Ahn's Kang Min-ho got entangled in a corruption scandal and was demoted. In the process, he also deeply disappoints his only son, Young-jun (played by Jo Han-seon), who later enrolls at a prestigious police academy, and denies he has ever had a real father. After an eight-year hiatus, Min-ho, now the head of an insignificant police unit stationed in the southeastern port city of Busan, reunites with his now grown-up son, fresh from the academy and never willing to recognize his father. The duo, however, have to work as a team to track down a drug ring whose connections seem to be linked with higher-ups in the police.
The movie never loosens its pace, starting with a fine (and deadly precarious) rollercoaster sequence, and running through a series of fighting scenes that reflect Jo's dedicated performance as a budding action star.
Ahn does not run, kick and jump much, but he makes his talent clear through his natural delivery of lines, and evokes a real father figure dealing with a troubled past and the painful challenge of trying to win back the heart of his son.
The movie does not limit the father-son theme to Ahn and Jo. In fact, a parallel dynamic is depicted at the opposite end of the good-and-evil spectrum, where the meaning of son is delicately twisted, thanks to a sex-change operation.
The basic format -- two cops who have to work together, despite their resentment, to chase after bad guys -- is not new, but director Kim's fast-paced presentation and the solid performances of Ahn and Jo are fresh enough to generate an impact on audiences.
Those who have seen "Two Cops" and its sequels over the years are bound to enjoy comparing Ahn's current and past characters, since there are similarities and differences. The similarities are obvious. Ahn's Min-ho is well-versed in the tricks of the trade, yet he knows where to stop and take care of justice. What's interesting is the subtlety of the differences. Unlike his previous cop role, Ahn seems more at ease with himself, supporting not only the storyline but also other characters.
Jo's character feels that Min-ho, flaunting gaudy shirts and wavy hair, is neither an affectionate father nor a reliable detective; however, the son comes to realize that he has been assigned to a really fine partner.
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