THE GOLDEN HOLIDAY (국제수사) (2020)

Genre: Comedy
Director: Kim Bong-han
Cast: Kwak Do-won, Kim Sang-ho, Kim Dae-myung, Kim Hie-won
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some VIolence)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website:

Opening Day: 22 October 2020

Synopsis: A laid-back countryside detective Byung-soo (Kwak Do-won) takes his family to the Philippines for his 10th wedding anniversary. In fact, his hidden agenda is to track down his old friend Yong-bae (Kim Sang-ho) who scammed him and got away a few years ago. In Manila, Byung-soo finds Yong-bae in prison for murder, and hears about the case surrounding ‘Yamashita’s Gold’. Swayed by a share of the Gold that Yong-bae offers, Byung-soo suddenly becomes embroiled in the case.

Movie Review:

It’s always exciting to know that you are travelling to a country far away. For example, for most of us in Singapore, the thought of travelling to the United States or Europe is usually more appealing that taking a holiday in, well, say, somewhere in Southeast Asia. Similarly, it must be quite a treat for the characters in this Korean movie to travel to the Philippines.

The protagonist is a police officer in South Korea’s countryside. His family has never taken a vacation abroad, so he takes them on a holiday to the Philippineson his 10^th wedding anniversary. To be honest, the Philippinesisn’t the first country most of us would prioritise for a holiday. Turns out that the cop has a hidden agenda of tracking down an old friend who scammed him a few years ago. Things become more exciting when he gets involved in a murder in Manilaand has to investigate his own case with the help of a tourist guide. When things evolve further, he discovers his friend is in prison and the three Korean men go on a cat and mouse mission to get themselves out of trouble.

Kwak Do Won (Steel Rain 2: Summit), Kim Sang Ho (The Negotiation) and Kim Dae Myung (The Drug King) are fine actors of their generation, and while they aren’t good lookers that female audiences will swoon over, these uncles have a charm that hold the 106 minute movie together. Considered veterans in the Korean film industry, the three leads have good chemistry with each other, and they effortlessly deliver their roles. Kwak plays a man whose holiday goes bonkers but still has to do hustle with the bad guys to protect his family. Kim (Sang Ho) oozes a shady persona that makes him the perfect candidate to portray a friend whom you aren’t sure about trusting. Kim (Dae Myung) is the one who brings the trio together.

Filmed on location in the Philippines, viewers from the region will be find the sights and sounds familiar: fro the street traffic and crowds, to the heat and sweat. Depending on your tolerance on stereotyping country cultures in media, you may even chuckle at the sequences involving pickpockets and corrupt officials.

Running at slightly less than two hours, the movie offers a little of everything in terms of genre. There are some bits of comedy (which is inevitable when three uncles are put together), some bits of drama (you can expect some hurt feelings when a friend betrays your trust), and some bits of action (a pre requisite when crime is involved). While the tone of the movie seems uneven at times, it is engaging enough to keep you adequately entertained. Even if the story progresses in an increasingly illogical manner, you disregard that aspect and continue on this escapist mode of entertainment.   

Movie Rating:

(While the action comedy doesn't deliver anything spectacular, it is agreeable and entertaining enough for you to kill two hours in the cinema)

Review by John Li