Hi-Five

Story: Wan-seo (Lee Jae-in) has received a heart transplant, and the doctors are baffled because she's completely healthy immediately afterward. Nevertheless, her father (Oh Jung-se), a Taekwondo instructor, forbids her from continuing her training. After the death of his wife he fears also losing his daughter. Wan-seo discovers, however, that she's not only completely healthy again but has also become incredibly strong and fast. She's not the only person with superpowers, though. She meets Ji-seong (Ahn Jae-hong), a failed screenwriter who knows a lot about superhero stories, can create powerful storms thanks to a transplanted lung, and wants to find other heroes. It seems that the organs he and Wan-seo received came from a deceased superhero. Accordingly, there must be four more people with special abilities. They can also be identified by a special tattoo that appeared on their bodies after the surgery. Soon they meet yogurt vendor Seon-nyeo (Ra Mi-ran), who doesn't know what her superpower is, and Gi-Dong (Yoo Ah-in), who can manipulate electronic devices. Ji-seong, the team's expert, points out that there must also be a supervillain out there. This turns out to be the successful cult leader Seo Yeong-choon (Shin Goo), whose subordinate (Kim Hee-won) also possesses the ability to heal others. The cult leader, or rather his daughter, who wants to seize power, is now searching for the superheroes to steal their powers and use them for themselves.

Review: Hardly anyone gets excited about superhero movies these days. The oversaturation is at least as high as with zombie flicks. Despite this, there are always stories that approach the genre from a fresh perspective and can be surprisingly successful. "Hi-Five" is precisely such a case, because more than a classic superhero film, it's reminiscent of genre entries like "Arahan" or "Kung Fu Hustle". It doesn't take itself too seriously and is simply fun. And that's without the cheesy one-liners that Marvel films seem to require every thirty seconds, which are anything but funny and merely background noise. Furthermore, "Hi-Five" can also be dramatic at times and touch on serious themes. Some scenes, like the surgery on a person who can't be anesthetized, are downright gruesome, but it's this rawness, this refusal to please everyone, that feels refreshing and honest. It should therefore come as no surprise that this action-comedy has a few rough edges, but ultimately offers plenty of entertainment.

The film's consistently fast pace doesn't allow for a lengthy introduction to the numerous characters. They bond fairly quickly, which is a wise decision by the screenwriter, because the story's true strength lies not in the individual characters — who, unsurprisingly, lack real depth — but in the chemistry between them. Ji-seong and Gi-Dong can't stand each other; the latter's arrogant manner might not immediately appeal to everyone, even though he turns out to be surprisingly trustworthy and reliable, while Seon-nyeo is always careful to maintain harmony within the group. We learn more about the characters through their interactions than in the brief interludes, such as the one that outlines Seon-nyeo's guilt. Considering the number of central characters, this was probably the best possible approach to giving everyone some depth without getting bogged down in numerous subplots. In any case, it works because we care about each and every one of them. Only the former sect member joins the group somewhat too late and thus really seems like a fifth wheel.

"Hi-Five" was originally slated for release three years earlier, but the Yoo Ah-in scandal, because of his drug problems — which might even be considered "good form" in the industry in some parts of the world, but in Asia still brings shame upon families for three generations — delayed its release. Following "The Match", this film starring Yoo has finally also been released, and fittingly (?), Yoo plays someone you don't immediately warm to, someone you constantly wonder if he'll betray the group. A little friction within the group is necessary to keep things interesting. And none of the "heroes" are perfect. At its core, however, the film is about friendship, and through their extraordinary abilities five individuals come together, who couldn't be any more different, yet grow closer precisely because of it. Nothing new, but well executed. For the Taekwondo student, the whole thing also proves to be a coming-of-age story. Lee Jae-in also impresses in the fight scenes and brings great energy to the screen.

What initially surprised me was the cult motif. The villain is the leader of a cult, of which there seem to be countless in Korea. Seeing the financial resources invested in shows that present the leader of such a cult as a godlike being, and the uncritical, utterly euphoric worship of such a figure by his followers, is both fascinating and frightening. Such critical themes in films always make one wonder why Koreans are so susceptible to these kinds of cults, yet at the same time, it all fits perfectly with a supervillain, who does indeed possess godlike abilities. Nevertheless, one sometimes gets the feeling that the cult-related elements don't quite mesh seamlessly with the rest of the story about friendship. This is especially true of the finale. While there were occasional displays of superhero abilities earlier on, with one chase scene being particularly memorable, the showdown attempts to crank up the intensity for an epic finale. With limited success.

This brings us to the action. Here, I would have liked a bit more grounding, especially given the protagonist's taekwondo skills. Perhaps that's unfair, since it's made clear from the start that everything is over-the-top, and some of the special effects do seem rather odd. This isn't necessarily to say cheap, as they visually are reminiscent of comics and the aforementioned "Kung Fu Hustle". People are kicked hundreds of meters away, and during the finale, they punch each other through concrete walls without any apparent consequences. For me, the action only really worked when it focused on the comedic aspect. Despite a rather mediocre finale, which makes it clear that the film's true strength lies in its quieter, funnier moments, the epilogue actually managed to create a sense of camaraderie and underscore the birth of a superhero team that leaves you wanting for more. Director Kang Hyeong-cheol ("Swing Kids") thus creates popcorn cinema that has its heart in the right place, which is why most of the flaws can easily be overlooked.

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