Chris
Rock does not believe guys like this exist. They are Asians who have more fun
than you do—maybe even more fun than he does. These five friends know the in’s
and out’s of the nightlife in Los Angeles’ Koreatown. However, they are getting
slightly less young than they used to be. Reluctantly, they will have to deal
with growing up stuff in Daniel Park’s Ktown
Cowboys (trailer
here), which
opens this Friday in New York.
Tonight,
they are celebrating a birthday, but it is not so unusual for the five lads to
meet in a bar. Each is having a hard time of things lately, especially the
formerly privileged Jason. Despite his lack of ambition and talent, he assumed
control of his family’s multi-million-dollar corporation. Unfortunately, the
firm’s valuation took a serious hit when his openly contemptuous vice-president
was arrested for embezzlement. His uncle, the head of the Korean division of
the business is flying in to give him a stern talking to, which is guaranteed
to be uncomfortable.
Robby
is also miserable dealing with a ridiculous inappropriate boss. Things are
getting so bad, he is seriously considering his adopted parents’ advice to
return to Korea and hopefully reconnect with his heritage. However, that would
complicate his relationship with his Anglo-American fiancée. Sunny never
enjoyed working at his family’s liquor store, but it is the burden of caring
for his dementia suffering father that is really taking a toll. Insecure
horndog Peter is just a mess, especially when it comes to his relationship with
fashion design classmate Hanna, the daughter of a family friend he has promised
to look out for. As for Danny, the aspiring stand-up comic, he just can’t get a
job.
You
probably expect Ktown to deliver
plenty of lad magazine Entourage-style
humor and you would not be wrong. At least, it is based on the premise they
need to start getting serious. It is not a great on-screen showcase for women,
but Mindy, Jason’s party girl cousin surprises with a bit of third act
substance.
Regardless,
Park and screenwriter-co-star Danny Cho certainly make Ktown after dark look
like a blast. Of course, some of the specifics look more appealing than others.
The after-hours soju joints look like cool hangs, but some of the rituals going
on in hostess and host-boy clubs most of us can probably safely take a pass on.
Shane
Yoon is legitimately charismatic as Jason and Danny Cho’s deadpan stand-up
delivery is effectively droll (he was arguably too modest writing for his
character). Angie Kim gives the film some real energy and verve as the
supposedly very Ktown-ish Mindy, but Peter Jae is bit shticky as his imposing
but awkward namesake.