Director: Woo Moon Gi.

Starring: Ahn Jae Hong, Hwang Seung Eon, Jung Woo Sik.

Running Time: 104 Minutes

Synopsis: Straight out of the military, Man Seob (Ahn) returns to school and sets about continuing his passion for the sport of Jokgu, a volleyball, football, tennis hybrid.

What is Jokgu anyway? will be the question from most people unfamiliar with the sport. Thankfully it’s a very simple sport that can best be described as a hybrid between football, volleyball, and tennis. The idea being to get the ball over the net and to not let it bounce more than once. With that in mind, it also needs to be understood that the sport was created as a way to promote exercise in the military. As such, the sport has mainly remained popular in the military of South Korea, and although teams do exist outside of the armed forces, it isn’t seen in teh same regard as other sports.

And that’s where THE KING OF JOKGU takes off, as protagonist Man Seob (Ahn) leaves the military after his compulsory service and returns to school. He’s horrified to learn that his old jokgu court is now a tennis court, and sets about bringing the sport to the masses. It doesn’t go as well as he hoped though, and the scene is set for a delightful sport comedy that mixes some sharp humour with adorable characters.

The characters are the best part of the film. They are so ridiculously innocent and happy, without coming across as needlessly dumb. Their enthusiasm is never dampened, and having the main team, made up of Food & Nutrition students, just play for the fun of it avoids the script turning to obvious cliches about being the best etc. There’s no backstory of some life changing event that makes the main characters love this sport, they just like having fun. Such predictable backstories are kept for side characters, and usually used as a comedic release. There’s the former player who was brilliant in his time, and the ex-football player harboring an injury, who turns to jokgu almost out of spite.

Despite his man-child composure, Man Seob and the always needed ‘love story’ is surprisingly mature. Anna (Hwang) is frustrated by her boyfriend, Kang Min (Jung), who is wallowing in self pity following an injury that has stopped in from playing international football, and although she takes a liking to Man Seob, he isn’t the answer to her relationship’s crises. Man Seob even recognises that he likes her and that Anna doesn’t feel the same way, yet this isn’t some sad love story either. It’s just how things go.

Both the sport and comedy aspects are spot on throughout. This is probably the film that relies on facial expressions more than any other. The entire cast reach an international audience with a few pursed lips and raised eyebrows. The physical humour, that is not to be confused with slapstick, is also forever hitting the right amount of silly and charming. THE KING OF JOKGU is a brilliant sporting comedy that actually does more than many will realise, it doesn’t rely on cliches, but can use them to good effect if needed. Characters you’ll love, and skits that’ll have you rolling on the floor; love the film reenactment scene in which a pair of headphones prove a worthy makeshift Bane mask. One of the best comedies of the year.

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