Director Ra Hee-chan's upcoming film "Boss" promises to deliver a fresh take on the gangster comedy genre this Chuseok holiday season by focusing on characters desperately trying to avoid leadership positions rather than fighting for power. The movie centers around an ironic premise where gang members seek their true identities and personal dreams instead of pursuing the typical path to becoming a crime boss.
"The ironic situation where they don't want to be the boss felt like an effective way to present a comedy," Ra explained during the film's premiere in Seoul on Wednesday. "I worked to write a deeper story that combines comedy with the dilemma of gangsters who have other dreams." The director emphasized that his film's unique concept and character development set it apart from other entries in the gangster comedy subgenre.
The story's humor emerges from an intense rivalry between Soon-tae and Kang-pyo, two second-in-command gang members who are both desperately attempting to avoid promotion to boss. Jo Woo-jin portrays Soon-tae, a skilled Chinese restaurant chef who dreams of becoming the best in his culinary field but finds himself trapped in his role as the gang's second-in-command. Meanwhile, Jung Kyung-ho plays Kang-pyo, the designated heir to the gang leadership, who secretly harbors ambitions of becoming a professional tango dancer.
The film features a strong supporting cast that adds significant depth to the story. Park Ji-hwan, Lee Kyu-hyung, Hwang Woo-seul-hye, and Oh Dal-soo deliver steady performances that complement the lead actors' comedic chemistry. Ra described their contributions as essential to creating the film's balanced tone between comedy and action.
Ra positioned "Boss" as an ideal holiday movie that audiences can enjoy comfortably with their families. "We tried to add action to it. This is a movie with a cliched theme that audiences have seen during the holidays," the director noted. The film incorporates action sequences alongside its comedic elements, making it accessible to viewers of various ages and preferences.
The movie represents a continuation of the gangster comedy genre that once dominated Korean cinema. While it features traditional elements like organized crime and internal gang conflicts, "Boss" introduces a innovative twist by having its protagonists actively resist ascending to positions of power. This reversal of typical gangster movie motivations forms the core of the film's comedic appeal.
Despite effectively utilizing its unique premise, the film doesn't rely heavily on laugh-out-loud moments. Instead, it succeeds through its fast-paced plot development, clean storytelling approach, and satisfying conclusion. These qualities make it particularly suitable for family viewing during the holiday season, when audiences typically seek entertaining but not overly complex films.
"Boss" will face competition at the box office when it opens alongside Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice." Lead actor Jo Woo-jin expressed optimism about both films' prospects, drawing parallels to his earlier work this year. "Earlier this year, I worked on 'The Match' with actor Lee Byung-hun, and now we both have lead roles in films opening for Chuseok," Jo explained.
Jo acknowledged the current challenges facing the Korean film industry while expressing hope for positive outcomes. "The movie industry isn't doing so well right now, but I hope that both 'Boss' and 'No Other Choice' will be two films that give audiences a good experience and bring some much-needed energy back to theaters," he stated. "Boss" is scheduled to hit theaters on October 3.
