Following the remarkable box office success of their 2023 romantic comedy 'Love Reset,' popular South Korean actor Kang Ha-neul and director Nam Dae-jung are reuniting for their highly anticipated upcoming comedy film 'The First Ride.' The dynamic duo promises audiences an even stronger comedic chemistry and more hilarious moments in their second collaboration.
At a press conference held in Seoul on Thursday, Kang Ha-neul expressed his genuine excitement about working with the same director again so quickly, describing it as a career first. 'It is the first time I've worked with the same director in such a short period,' Kang explained to the gathered media. 'Since we already knew each other's styles, we didn't need long conversations to discuss things.' The 35-year-old actor noted significant positive changes in director Nam since their previous collaboration, which successfully attracted over 2.1 million moviegoers to theaters.
'The set felt a lot more comfortable and fun. After the success of 'Love Reset,' the director seemed more confident, relaxed and even more fun to be around,' Kang shared, highlighting the improved working atmosphere. Director Nam Dae-jung reciprocated the praise, demonstrating his complete trust and confidence in the talented actor. 'While making 'Love Reset,' I felt Kang is the actor who can best bring to life the projects that I write and direct,' Nam stated. 'I feel like I would be happy to do all my future projects with him.'
'The First Ride' centers around an entertaining storyline featuring four childhood friends who decide to embark on their very first overseas adventure together. Their already wild and unpredictable trip becomes even more chaotic and hilarious when Ok-shim, played by Han Sun-hwa, unexpectedly joins their group. Kang Ha-neul takes the lead role as Tae-jung, portraying an academically high-performing character who tends to become completely obsessive when he develops an interest in something.
The film features an eccentric and diverse ensemble cast that promises plenty of laughs. Kim Young-kwang plays Do-jin, a quirky character who becomes fixated on the unusual goal of adopting a cow during their trip. Rising star Cha Eun-woo portrays Yeon-min, a stunningly handsome character who harbors dreams of becoming a world-famous DJ. Kang Young-seok rounds out the main cast as Geum-bok, a character who despises studying so intensely that he has actually learned the skill of sleeping with his eyes open to avoid academic responsibilities.
During the press conference, Kang Ha-neul playfully acknowledged being typecast in intellectual roles, having previously played a lawyer in 'Love Reset' and now taking on the role of a top student. 'The director is teasing me by casting me, someone who isn't intellectual, in this role,' Kang joked with reporters. 'I am not really that smart.' However, director Nam disagreed with this self-assessment, praising Kang's natural intelligence as a crucial element that contributes to his exceptional comedic talent and timing.
Director Nam also expressed his disappointment that Cha Eun-woo could not attend the press event due to his mandatory military service obligations. 'His character's plausibility wouldn't be established if not for Cha,' the director explained, emphasizing the importance of the casting choice. 'If he hadn't accepted the cast offer, we would have had to either change the character itself. Fortunately, our needs met perfectly as he also wanted to try comedic acting.' In the film, Cha's character charms everyone around him with his gorgeous looks but remains comically oblivious to the real reason for his popularity, genuinely believing he should pursue a career as a comedian instead.
'The First Ride' is scheduled for theatrical release on October 29, giving audiences something exciting to look forward to this fall. With the proven successful partnership between Kang Ha-neul and director Nam Dae-jung, combined with a talented supporting cast and a promising comedic storyline, the film appears poised to potentially repeat the box office success of their previous collaboration.
