Twenty review [LKFF 2015]: “One of the funniest films in years.”

Twenty review: It’s almost impossible to keep up with the laughs, and it is admirable in how they are presented.

Twenty review

From the opening shots of Twenty it is clear that we are in for a colourful treat. Greens explode, while classroom notice boards bring life to dreary educational settings. It’s a strange thing to note at first, but also a very important element to the film’s overall atmosphere and tone. Comedy writer Lee Byeong Heon provides us with his second film as director, a coming of age piece that could be described as a ‘teen comedy’ here in the west, were it not for the main characters lying just outside that boundary.

Twenty is an adaptation of that universal rite of passage, touching boobs and dating girls. It’s a shallow motivation, but it’s a very true one, and the whole of Twenty is just filled with chaotic charm. The sex mad trio are Chi Ho (Kim Woo Bin), Dong Woo (Lee Jun Ho), and Gyung Jae (Kang Ha Neul). Chi Ho is an attractive young man living out of his parent’s pockets. He’s in a relationship but just can’t help but woo other women. He has no clear ambition other than to party all night and sleep all day. Dong Woo is an aspiring comic book artist whose family are reliant on him after claiming bankruptcy since their father was sent to prison. Finally there’s Gyung Jae who has clear aspirations, but is bewitched by a fellow college student.

Twenty review

The film’s surface is comparable to American Pie as Chi Ho demands the other two get laid before the end of the year. However, Twenty has a hell of a lot more charisma and a diverse range of comedic tricks up its sleeves. Unlike so many comedies, Lee Byeong Heon refuses to enlist a single type of comedy. There’s slapstick, absurdity, surreal moments, one liners, misunderstandings, and the kind of character related comedy that usually has to be reserved for sitcoms where audiences get to know the characters. Lee Byeong Heon is never reliant on one type of humour for too long, which is a relief as the crude humour doesn’t become vulgar. Best of all are the facial expressions of the cast. This ensemble must have been brought together for their incredible comic expressions; inciting more laughs than some comedies get in their entire running times.

The script is also a smart piece of writing, never once representing the characters as being as cool as they think they are. It’s clever enough to know that these are just lads with hormones, and the women in their lives are shown to be particularly feisty, always giving the boys a run for their money. One particular stand-out is So Hee (Lee Yoo Bi), Gyung Jae’s younger sister and Don Woo’s classmate. She has fast lines, great screen presence, and steals all of her scenes. It’s a film about growing up, but also states how there isn’t a single path, and it’s always possible to walk back and start again. Not everything here has a happy ending, but there’s always hope just on the horizon.

Twenty review

This is one of the funniest films in years. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the laughs, and it is admirable in how they are presented. Whether you like romantic comedy, or perhaps an absurd but brilliant slow motion fight sequence, Twenty knows how to have fun while also delivering characters with clear arcs and chemistry. Romance, heart, drama, and numerous set-pieces of perfect timing make this a film with universal appeal.

Twenty review by Luke Ryan Baldock, November, 2015.

Twenty screened at the London Korean Film Festival 2015.