I feel like I know Park Seo-joon and IU's 'Dream'

≪Choi Ji-ye’s Some Stars≫
Reporter Choi Ji-ye of Ten Asia gives star ratings to movies she has seen before their release. Be sure to check before purchasing movie tickets. Because your time is precious!

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How many stars does ‘Dream’ have? = ★★★☆☆

It tastes good, but it's a taste I know. It seems that the director's specialty was displayed without filtering, but for some reason, it is not new. This is the movie ‘Dream’ (directed by Lee Byung-hun).

Hongdae (Park Seo-joon), a promising soccer player, gets into an accident and gets severely punished due to his unhelpful mother. Hongdae had no choice but to accept the offer to coach the national team for the Homeless World Cup, which was perfect for revamping its image. In front of him is producer So-min (IU), who decided to film a Homeless World Cup documentary for very practical reasons. Hongdae and Somin, who had been bickering, gradually become absorbed in the stories of the homeless athletes, and before they know it, they have the same dream and support each other.

The message this movie is trying to convey is about homeless soccer players. Hwan-dong (played by Kim Jong-su), who was so intoxicated with success that he ran out of the house instead of taking care of his family; Hyo-bong (played by Ko Chang-seok), who was divorced by his wife and unable to live with his daughter due to a mistake in guarantoring a friend; and his life with the woman who took care of him for the first time in his life. The main characters include Beom-su (played by Jeong Seung-gil), who decided to dedicate his life, In-seon (played by Lee Hyun-woo), who was abandoned by his parents and lost the woman who was his only light, Moon-soo (played by Yang Hyun-min), a former gangster, and Young-jin (played by Hong Wan-pyo), who is shrouded in mystery. In-guk (played by Heo Jun-seok), the executive director of Big Issue Korea, a media outlet that helps rehabilitate the homeless, is also a key message speaker.

The homeless national team players, each with their own stories, depict human loss and recovery. Furthermore, it tells us that the 'home' of the homeless is not simply a physical home, but also means family, loved ones, and ultimately dreams through them. It contains the message that the lack of dreams is not much different from the situation of homeless people floating on the streets without a home.

However, the process of reaching this message is fragmentary, and the main narrative flow is obvious. A predictable story unfolds without exception in the theme of 'Homeless World Cup'. Director Lee Byung-hun's specialty, a catchy joke code, is placed throughout the movie, but its scope does not differ significantly from his previous works. The characters' unique way of speaking and sharp lines of dialogue are what sets this director apart, but they somehow lost their shine in this work. It doesn't come across as novel.

The reason can be found in the words of director Lee Byung-hun. Director Lee Byung-hun said at a press conference that 'Dream' is a work whose scenario was completed before '20' (2015, director Lee Byung-hun). It is a story that has been going on for over 10 years. 'Dream', a relatively early screenplay, seems to taste like a green apple because it was written before director Lee Byung-hun's world of work had fully blossomed. Moreover, since I watched the movie in reverse order of the completion of the scenario, could there be a new taste in ‘Dream’?

Park Seo-joon, who has a reputation as a soccer lover, shows signs of putting his sincerity into the role of a soccer player. He showed off his solid physique and agile soccer skills, enough to be considered an active soccer player. The acting tone feels like it has evolved further under director Lee Byung-hun's direction as an extension of the movie 'Youth Police' (directed by Kim Joo-hwan) and the drama 'Fight for My Way'.

IU, who was filmed before 'Broker' and was attempting her first commercial film, gives a strong impression that she acted according to director Lee's guidance rather than her own. The character itself is monotonous because it is not very three-dimensional. His acting is decent for his first commercial film debut, but his presence as a lead actor is not great.

Other than that, the acting of the homeless soccer team actors is impeccable. Among them, Kim Jong-soo, Jeong Seung-gil, and Heo Jun-seok blended into the movie as naturally as air thanks to their deep understanding of director Lee's world of work, to the point where they were called the 'Lee Byung-hun division.' In particular, it is fun to see Jeong Seung-gil play a romantic partner with his real-life wife Lee Ji-hyun in the movie.

Released on April 26th. Suitable for ages 12 and up. Running time 125 minutes.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr