My Wife Is a Gangster (2001) User Reviews

Good premise that suffers from weak story, still funny and entertaining, but empty

[refresh_daemon · 6/10 · 16 January 2008]

This film was a critically panned hit from the peak days of Corean cinema. You can pretty much guess what it's about by the title. While it's not a revelation in any way and has major problems with story (it's a mess), I can easily see how the comedy and to a less extent, the action, could have carried audiences away.

The strongest point of this film is the situational comedy that occurs between the protagonist Eun-jin and her patsy husband Su-il. Having a stone cold killer for a wife and a friendly, naive and somewhat awkward civil servant for a husband leads to all sorts of situations you could probably imagine. Both actors easily handle their rather simply defined characters and manage to even inject them with a little personality.

The action set pieces really clash against the overall tone of the film, being quite violent and shot without any hint of humor. Although it's cut and uses hand-held camera work for maximum confusion/excitement/covering up the stunt persons, the actual choreography is pretty decent. But for a film of this nature, the action is a little excessive and unnecessary, so ultimately detracts from the strength of the film.

The real issue with the film is the story--it relies on increasingly tired conceits to drive the comedy and melodrama. It's no spoiler that the only reason that the protagonist even bothers to get married is because of her (sigh) terminally ill sister. There is a lot of amusing and embarrassing comedy that's mined out of her desire to find a husband, both around her interactions with potential suitors and her own feeble attempts at feminine wiles, but the terminally ill sister is a wimpy and hardly believable conceit.

There are also amusing pluses in her dealings with her underlings as well as in their own interactions and minor plot lines, but again, sledgehammer-like conceits are used to pummel these side stories into the main story leading to an ending that is difficult to really accept, especially as characters seem to change, not because of character development, but because the writers made them change. It's all too much really.

For all its faults, My Wife Is A Gangster is still amusing enough to serve as an enjoyable and mindless film and I did find myself laughing because of some of the set-ups, but the film really works overtime to try to come up with reasons to convince its viewers to believe its yarn and doesn't always succeed. But for what it is, I suppose it could be worse. It's no "must see" and I would hesitate to even recommend it, but if the premise intrigues you and you're looking for a few laughs and can stomach the heavy-handed attempts at manipulation, there is enough to enjoy about this slick production. 6/10.

Romantic? Well... not really. Not my kind of romantic anyway...

[Enchorde · 6/10 · 17 October 2006]

Recap: The second in command of a local gangster organisation, Cha Eun-Jin, doesn't live the typical life of a lady. So when her terminally ill sister asks her to find a man, she is really out of her normal environment. Lethal with knives, she is totally incompetent when it's about meeting a future husband. But with the aid of her henchmen she manages to marry the unsuspecting Kang Su-il. But being married to Eun-Jin isn't really all that Su-il expected...

Comments: The rental-box put this in the romantic-genre. I really wonder about the sense of romance whomever wrote that really has. The first scene, for example, shows two men beaten with bats and knives, one of them executed with an axe, before Eun-Jin comes to the rescue with knives and martial arts. There are some red roses in the movie, but I really think bats and knives outnumber them. This movie is much more of a action-comedy. And as that, it is pretty successful. More than a few scenes are drawn to their edge with Su-il just wanting a good marriage and ordinary wife, and Eun-Jin trying to clean up in her criminal world and at the same time granting the wish of her sister by staying married to Su-il. Except for Eun-Jin's martial skills, they're not very good at it. And that's about it, and that's about all there has to be.

But it's not very romantic. Not in any sense I know anyway.

6/10

Fun little movie

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 22 July 2007]

Spoiler ahead, don't read, if you haven't watched the movie, or don't want to know anything about it.

But also violent. The premise is made clear in the English/international title of the movie! It's about a gangster woman who has to look for a husband, because she promised her sister, who is ill!

So she finds this incredibly shy guy (after she hired a woman to find her a husband, which didn't work), which is quite funny at first, but get's kind of boring/repetitive. Sometimes the change between comedy and action has it's flaws too. But all in all, it's a fine little Korean movie, that is enjoyable enough to watch. Not genius, but nice!

Interesting comedy drama

[FilmFlaneur · 9 July 2003]

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** My Wife Is A Gangster is an uneven Korean crime comedy, which nevertheless has some interesting things to say about the role of the sexes in general, and the place of women in particular. Eun-Kyung Shin, mostly familiar in the West from her appearance in the weird fantasy Uzumaki and Ring Virus (1999), plays Cha Eun-jin, alias Mantis, also nicknamed 'Big Brother'. She's a fearsome number two in a crime organisation, in charge of 50 men. Normally seen in blue business shirts and trousers, she is a ultra cool, deadly fighter, feared and admired by those over whom she has control. Her unyielding side is fatally compromised however when she discovers her sister dying of cancer and who, as a last wish, asks her to get married and have a child. Meanwhile an opposing gang is causing trouble, while S***boy, a raw recruit to the gang from the country, has to be shown the ropes...

One could easily imagine this plot being remade by Hollywood, for instance with Steve Martin as the gormless husband selected by the gangsteress to promote her marriage and pregnancy, or Angeline Jolie in the title role. Many of the rough edges would undoubtedly have to be smoothed off in the process, as My Wife Is A Gangster is surprisingly violent, notably in the final scenes where the pregnant heroine is kicked in the stomach. As such, it works as a Long Kiss Goodnight scenario in reverse, as the non-nonsense action woman has to discover/re-invent her softer side. The action of the film is sandwiched between two major confrontations: the first, as the opening credit sequence roll, is a startlingly stylish fight in the rain, featuring the deadly flying knives of Eun-jin, and the last a revenge attack on those who have killed a popular henchman. In between there is another stylish knife fight, this time a matter of honour between Eun-jin and a Japanese martial arts expert, whom she succeeds in defeating and reducing to 'a eunuch'. This confrontation, set in long grass and rolling hills, whether deliberate or not, reminds one of the climax in Kurosawa's early masterpiece Sugato Sanshiro (1945). While not on that level, and influenced by the cool shenanigans of The Matrix (1999), the present film makes the most of a fairly limited budget in the action department, effectively conveying the casual violence of gangsterdom.

In fact so insistent are the set pieces that the more frequent, quieter moments of the film require some adjustment on the part of the viewer. First-time director Cho Jin-Kyo has chosen a tricky property in terms of tone, and has trouble balancing the fault line between villainous combat and the social comedy surrounding it. Eastern cinema, of even the most serious genre kind, can have a slapstick manner that's disconcerting to Western audiences. Fortunately a lot of that distraction is absent here, although there is a peculiar scene in this film involving smelly feet, a resuscitated cat and a tense stand off between gangs which works uneasily. The subplot, featuring Shitboy and his mentor Romeo (a ultra-cool henchman), is more effective, although their occasional Laurel and Hardy antics hardly connects with the main predicament of Eun-Jin.

It is Eun-jin's concern for her sister that gives the film its heart. At her instigation she has to act out a different lifestyle, softening her looks with make-up, which involves a dating agency, courting a man, entering into marriage, setting up home and eventually trying for a child. Having chivalrously - and unnecessarily - come to Eun-jin's aid during a street fight, Kang Su-Il is quickly selected as a prospective groom, being gullible and desperate for a mate. Proposing to the female gang leader with tender words from The Bridges Of Madison County, after the marriage he soon realises that he is only allowed to touch her with permission, that a Yakuza-type tattoo covers her back and his initial advances can be rejected with a kick to the groin. But once the need is felt to get herself pregnant then the process is reversed and, in scenes satirical of the usual meek role allotted to wives in Eastern cinema, she forces herself upon him at regular intervals. Much is very amusing parody, whether it the sight of such a independent, strong woman learning how to flirt and tease and even suck cock, (moments which recall those in Golden Chicken aka: Gam Gai, 2002), or just sitting demurely, cold eyed with fury, during the traditional romantic introductions. The excellently staged wedding scene, set in a chapel stocked with nightclub girls, gangsters and a punch up in a balloon-filled balcony, is a highlight. Eun-jin's henchmen make awkward witnesses to the happy event, but they are persuaded to follow through this, and her other increasingly bizarre lifestyle choices, by a fierce loyalty to their leader. Her most realistic suitor worships her from afar after she brought him out of a coma, but he is too intimidated by the debt to act upon his admiration.

Eun-Kyung Shin gives her difficult role suitable presence, and one is almost convinced of the punishment her slender figure gives out to those who transgress against her. As the unlucky husband, Sang-Myeon Park is also good as a man who gradually gains his self esteem and pride, although his transformation to avenger and then leather-clad hero at the end of the film is less persuading. A similar transformation overtakes S***boy who, with new hairstyle and cool dress sense, promptly steps into the shoes of the absent Romeo to introduce the new bumpkin to the gang. And, having been relieved of her responsibilities and promises by the death of her sister, for Eun-jin it's business as normal. But perhaps that is the point: in a film that plays with sexual roles and stereotypes, the changes and reversals we see in characters are often ludicrous, pointing up social and cinematic stereotypes in a broad but effective fashion. It's worth seeking out, although more accomplished, less formulaic, comedies are now emerging from Korea on DVD like Barking Dogs Don't Bite (aka: Flandersui gae, 2000) and Attack The Gas Station (aka: Juyuso seubgyuksageun, 1999).

Fun even for the english-limited audience

[fanofimdb · 6/10 · 25 March 2002]

First, let me explain that I don't speak or comprehend Korean. I also watched the only available version of this film, which just happens to be with Korean audio and no subtitles. Also, my knowledge of Korean history is pretty sparse, but serves me well enough.

With the caveats aside, I enjoyed this film as well as one can without understanding any of the dialog. I agree with the other reviewers who say this film is a good mix of action, drama, and comedy. Obviously, the action translates just fine. I understood a great deal of the comedy and was surprised to be able to get most of the dramatic happenings. That said, most of the drama was lost on me, I was only able to understand the basic gist of it.

This did not stop me from enjoying the film. I was surprised at how similar this film was to a Hollywood offering. The 'wife' does action well and the closing scene was a good laugh. Maybe if I understood the dialog I would have seen it coming, but it was a funny surprise to me. The hip-hop closing credit song surprised me. Funny how flexible western culture can be. I can understand how people of other nationalities can feel they are being 'invaded' and sense a loss of their own culture. Perhaps if I watch it again, the combination of reading other's reviews and having seen it once, I would get a lot more from it.

I am just starting to get into writing reviews and look forward to doing many more.

A Decent Action-Comedy

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 5 July 2015]

Separated during childhood both "Cha Eun-Jin" (Eun-Kyung Shin) and her older sister Yu-Jin (Eung-Kyung Lee) have tried to find each other ever since. Unfortunately, when Eun-Jin finally does find her sister she discovers that Yu-Jin has an advanced form of cancer and doesn't have long to live. Wanting to keep her sister's spirits up Eun-Jin hastily agrees to getting married despite the fact that she is an assassin for a local mob and has no interest in anything except her chosen profession. Since time is of the essence she pretty much has to settle for whoever will have her and in that regard she ends up marrying a man named "Kang Su-Il" (Sang-Myeon Park) who at first sight doesn't appear to be much of a catch. However, Yu-Jin sees him for the good man that he is and then as a dying request asks Eun-Jin to try to get pregnant. Yet Eun-Jin still has her profession to think of and the last thing she needs is a husband and a child. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie I will just say that this action film could just as easily be listed as a comedy because there are several hilarious scenes throughout the movie. On that note some of the comedy is a little raunchy but all things considered it wasn't too bad overall. In any case, I rate this movie as slightly above average.

Fast paced gangster action comedy...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 8 February 2016]

"My Wife is a Gangster" (aka "Jopog manura") is an entertaining movie, as it has a good amount of action and a good amount of offbeat humor in it. And it is also spiced up with a good, wholeheartedly storyline.

The story in the movie is about Cha Eun-jin, a female gangster boss, whom is forced to live out her dying sisters last wish; that being to see her married. And while having no suitable romances, her henchmen are sent out to find a man for her to marry. She ends up tying the knot with a man unknowing of her true nature and line of work.

There is a good amount of action throughout the movie, with the fight sequences being quite nicely choreographed. And the action part of "My Wife is a Gangster" is a necessary aspect to the movie, as this is a gangster movie, after all.

And there is also a good amount of comedy throughout the course of the movie, especially in the parts where Cha Eun-jin has to become feminine and let go of her rugged, masculine, gangster mentality. And the situation with the gangster wife and the unsuspecting husband also does incur some hilarious moments.

What works in favor of the movie is the characters, as they are detailed, memorable and outstanding; and that goes from the main characters and right down to the goons in the gangster family. Lots of nice details and colorful characters throughout the movie. And actress Eun-Kyung Shin does a good job in the lead role.

"My Wife is a Gangster" is a good movie for an introduction to the wonderful world of the South Korean cinema, if you are not already familiar with it. It is an entertaining movie and can actually been watched more than once. I have seen it three times by now, since I stumbled upon the movie somewhere back in the mid-2000's.

Silly Hongkong slapstick elements meet a bad parody of Japanese Yakuza movies

[kluseba · 3/10 · 30 August 2013]

I'm a big fan of Asian and South Korean cinema and I really dug some of their eccentric and humorous movies such as "Save The Green Planet!" or "Quick". "My Wife Is A Gangster" is though neither a good comedy nor a good gangster flick. The movie is quite overrated and had two unnecessary sequels.

I must admit that the initial idea of the movie sounded promising. There were a couple of very good South Korean movies where a wife had some sort of a double identity and secret life as a special agent for example. "Shiri" is a great example and "My Girlfriend Is An Agent" also has its moments. That's why I have watched this movie. But the idea doesn't work very well on here. The two main actors don't have any chemistry. The weird situation of a female gangster married to a shy bourgeois husband could have been funny but the scenes in here are boring, the scenario isn't credible and the humour is very childish, predictable and superficial.

The gangster side of the movie isn't any better. It feels as if it had been inspired by a few serious Yakuza movies by Takashi Miike or Takeshi Kitano and desperately wants to parody the genre. The whole thing doesn't work for two reasons. The actors are annoying, mostly bad and not credible at all. A naked gangster running after a punk through half a city isn't funny but more embarrassing than any bad Jackie Chan movie. Second, the characters are boring and you simply don't care about them.

Then, there is the story of the movie. Well, what story? The gangster woman fulfills all wishes of her dying sisters and goes through a weird relationship with her husband. Meanwhile, her gangster clan beats up a few punks for any reason. When one of her guys gets killed, his friend suspects the wrong guy and his revenge fails horribly. When the gangster wife comes to save her gang, she loses but her life is spared. She later recovers from her injuries and her husband is ready to avenge her and become a gangster himself. That's it.

The viewers have to accept that the stiff husband changed his mind and became a cool bad boy from one instant to the other because he loved his egoistic wife that never showed him any kind of appreciation so much. This rushed and silly story simply doesn't carry a film of almost two hours of running time.

Is this scenario credible or original? No. Are there any surprising elements? No. Is there a coherent and gripping story line from the beginning to the end? Not really.

Two or three scenes were at least a little bit interesting and slightly funny. That's why I gave three very generous points for this.

I recommend you to avoid this movie if you are looking for intelligent humour, a few good gangster movie sequences and an original story. If you just feel like switching your brain off and enjoy some childish slapstick humour inspired by stereotypical Hongkong action comedy flicks and generic Japanese gangster films, go and waste your time.

My Wife is a Gangster 9/10

[YULAW 701 · 9/10 · 23 February 2002]

My Wife is a Gangster is unique blend of different genres; action, comedy, and drama. It's main focus is on comedy, so don't see this movie thinking it is wall to wall action. It does have a couple of great fight scenes - one in the rain, one in a field of tall grass, and one in the rival gang's hideout. The action choreography and camera work is done superbly, very stylish.

The story centers around a female JOPOK (equivalent to Yakuza in Japan). She finds her long lost sister only find she is dying of some kind of disease. Her dying wish is that she sees her sister get married before she dies. The poor unsuspecting husband, who by the way looks like Sammo Hung's Korean cousin, is put through so much tribulation through the movie, you can help but feel sorry for him!

The movie has some great comedy, which had me busting out loud. The movie also has some drama thrown in, which is done to great effect. Overall, this movie works and is unique in it's own right. 9/10

Entertaining film, but 20 seconds too long.

[goldeneagleUK · 7/10 · 12 July 2002]

Highly entertaining film, which could have been vastly improved by a simple 20 second cut at the end of the fight sequence where the lady in question takes on the rival gang. I like a bit of ultraviolence as well as the next chap, and the fight sequences in this film are well choreographed and well executed, and sit quite happily in what is essentially a comedy. But really, the final blows in the last set-piece are thoroughly unsporting, not to mention unpleasant, and totally unnecessary from the dramatic point of view: the direct consequence of those few seconds could have been brought about at any stage of the fight. So a 7, rather than an 8 or a 9 because of the nasty taste that is left behind.

Unfunny and predictable, this so called comedy tends to drag

[tylim28 · 2/10 · 4 June 2003]

Branded a comedy, the movie proves to be unfunny for most part. The main problem lies with the central character of the gangster wife, Eun-jin. She puts on a stern emotionless face for most of the movie. As if that were not enough, she speaks very few lines. It is unusual for such an important character to have so little dialogue and facial expression. This certainly distances her from the audience. The character of the unfortunate husband is not much better as most of the time he is looking sad and making futile complaints about her behaviour. The movie therefore has to depend a lot on physical comedy and here it again fails because of the predictability of the situations and the cliches employed. How many times must we watch Eun-jin threaten her meek husband? How many times must we endure the sight of her husband walking away sulking? Many potentially hilarious situations turn out to be rather unfunny thanks to the afore mentioned lack of dialogue and facial expression. Another problem is that the many subplots, which are just as unaffecting and unfunny, tend to make the movie drag. None of the supporting characters are interesting enough to make the audience care for them. The action sequences are well choreographed but they ultimately fail to save the movie.

Wonderful piece of film-making

[simon_booth · 10/10 · 7 March 2002]

MWIAG is an action comedy, based I believe on a Korean comic series. The blend is biased a little towards the comedy side, but what quantity the action might like is more than made up for by quality.

Backdrop: Cha Eun-Jin has been raised as a Jopog (gangster) since childhood, and has risen through the ranks to 'Big Brother', no. 2 in the organisation. She also happens to be a female, but this is a detail that is largely considered to be irrelevant - especially by her. She's smart, confident, ruthless, and as luck would have it a fantastic fighter. The movie begins with a fight, filmed in the rain with dark shadows and slow motion creating a very artful effect. Two gangster are up against a group of many, and about to get killed when their savior appears - Eun-Jin silhouetted against the light looking full on comic-book cool before she somersaults into the ground and spins, kicks, twists, rolls and slashes her way through all comers. The dark lighting, rain and camerawork create a wonderful look and mood for this, and the choreography is easily up to anything Hong Kong has offered us for years. Short, but very sweet.

Eun-Jin would possibly carry on like this happily for the rest of her life, but the discovery of her sister whom she hasn't seen since childhood introduces new complexity. Her sister has cancer, and may not live much longer. Her one wish is to see Eun-Jin get married before she dies.

Eun-Jin's sudden need to address her feminine side, and the fact that she wants the husband she chooses to remain unaware of her profession, is the basic dynamic from which any number of comic situations are derived. The transplanting of her gangster persona & gangster cronies into totally non-gangster circumstances is a cool 'fish out of water' scenario, and very effectively spoofs the gangster attitudes and conventions.

The main backbone of the movie, as with most strong movies, is the characters. Eun-Jin is a wonderful character, and the performance by Shin Eun-Gyeong is absolutely spot on. Tough, cool, mean and thoroughly hilarious. The supporting cast are all just as well developed too.

The movie is paced quite gently, shifting from amusing situation to amusing situation without feeling the need to hurry the plot along too fast. Action scenes break out quite frequently, but there is a marked difference between the 3 scenes in which Eun-Jin fights (beginning, middle and end) and the remainder of the action. Her men, the thugs, fight street - grappling, stumbling, beating with whatever they can reach. Sometimes this is played for laughs, sometimes not. Realistic, but not massively exciting. When Eun-Jin fights however... it is a thing of beauty. Clearly modelled on HK action, with a little Samurai thrown in too, these scenes are amazingly choreographed and filmed. Between this and Bichunmoo (which MWIAG easily surpasses), and hopefully Musa when it arrives, it looks like Korea is making a very strong bid for Hong Kong's action crown.

If you buy the movie just for the action, doubtless you'll love it - but really it's not the strongest part of the movie. The characters, the performances and the humour are all equally well developed and fill more screen time. If you buy it for these... doubtless you will love it also. Can't really lose out on this one in fact :)

Koreans and Humility

[bemyfriend-40184 · 7/10 · 20 February 2021]

What makes Korean comedy so great? The Koreans possess the quality of humility. They laugh at themselves: their weaknesses, their vanity, their shortcomings. They laugh at their own humanity; and thusly, overcome it; to show us something more than merely human. Maybe it is a glimpse of the divine. Best scenes: the wedding, the recitation of the American (!) author.

Lame and unfunny

[daustin · 1/10 · 12 December 2002]

When the funniest parts of a comedy are the screwed-up subtitles, you know you're in trouble. Out of all the new wave Korean movies I've watched this is by far the worst. Everything else was at least of good quality and many are great. This just plain sucked and was a terrible disappointment. Figures that this is the flick Hollywood chooses to remake. The movie is choppy and discombobulated, and it's almost impossible to care at all about the characters. The fight scenes are nothing new and bear little relation to the rest of the movie. The humor is just pitiful - I think the low point would have to the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation of the cat, straight out a bad Farrelly brothers knock-off. Is it supposed to be funny when the husband (a character I guess we're supposed to like?) tries to rape his wife, the titular character? Most of the secondary characters get by with fart humor and smacks on the head. If you want to see a funny Korean movie, watch The Foul King or Attack the Gas Station, I saw this with 5 other movie fans and we all thought it was terrible. Is the female lead supposed to be a gangster or retarded?

A truly lovely film I'm very happy to have seen and to rewatch!

[nimnimnim · 21 October 2004]

This is definitely one of my top 10 favorite films. I guess it's the remarkable, sweet and subtle romance that somehow is so well placed that makes it so bright/clever. I'm very impressed by how the romance is evenly mixed with comedy and still so very touching. It very much proves a light and cheerful film can be very touching which western movies should take after more (and not being either cheerful/comical or sincere/romantic). I always thought I didn't like romance at all until some rare dramas made me understand I'm just very demanding on modesty, taste and ingenuity and this film certainly has such romance that passes my level-headed taste. oh and it does have very good action (fighting) and is overall very amusing.

wow is this stupid or what...spoiler alert

[dr_dohc · 1/10 · 26 September 2005]

spoiler alerts! seriously i just stopped watching this movie when the married man tried to peak up her shirt when she was sleeping...this movie is just stupid...its suppose to be a comedy, but fails miserably...the ONLY way you are going to laugh this this movie is if you laugh at anything that moves...DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!! considered yourself warned!!! i'm not a miserable person if you are thinking that, there are a lot of other Korean comedies that i've enjoyed, Mr. handy, 100 days with Mr arrogant, my little bride, he was cool just to name a few ones i would recommend, please, don't waste your two hours on this film!

Nothing artsy. But sure is funny!

[Sinnerman · 10/10 · 24 February 2002]

A commercial hit back in its home market, Korea. From the looks of the sold out crowd in its early release here in Singapore, "My Wife is a Gangster" looks set to become a regional box office hit as well.

Take my word for it. Go into this film and have a great 2 hours of entertainment.

Disappointing

[Chris_Hirschhaeuser · 3/10 · 26 January 2004]

Well, I can hardly find a good word of this annoying piece of movie. Maybe the best things are the the cinematography and the martial arts fights. But they can't beat bad scripts and dialogs. The script is confusing, most of the scenes does not fit together (why is Romeo dying in that pathetic way? Why is Mantis fighting in the fields? Why is her husband SO damned stupid? etc.). At one point it is just boring watching the persons in the movie acting senseless. And you never know, if it is meant to be a comedy or just an action flic, because the humor isn't really funny and the fights are sometimes too brutal for a comedy. No balance at all.

I just hope the Hollywood remake will have a better script, because the idea of a gangster women having a "normal" husband is quite nice (a little bit reverse True Lies).

A fun little romp.

[Billy Edwards · 10/10 · 12 March 2003]

Being totally unfamiliar with Korean cinema, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was this a multi-culturally funny movie, but a great action adventure tale as well. My true surprise came with the depth of the characters, something sadly lacking in the Hollywood action/comedies. The acting was also first rate, especially within the ranks of the lead performers. If you are curious about Korean cinema, this is definitely a good starter piece. It certainly left me wanting to see more.

What a Let Down

[nyx_420 · 1/10 · 10 September 2010]

The movie started out great. Eunjin was a awesome character, a real gangster. I loved her character; she was strong, she knew what she was doing and she knew what she was after. She wore sensible shoes and dressed like a gangster! Woot! When her husband tries to rape her (twice), she totally beats him down and tells him never to touch her without her permission.

Then it goes downhill.

They did what every Hollywood movie does to a strong female character: even though Eunjin is the gangster and the one with the experience, it's her husband who 'saves the day' so to speak. He gets revenge for her even though he's slow and stupid. Why oh why can't a movie just let a strong woman be without a man getting even for her? Does it wilt the cocks of the directors and male viewers? Is that it?

The 'get married for your dying sister' premise was really weak and not believable. Why not just pay someone to get 'married' to her? Or better yet, demand one of her subordinates 'marry' her? He'd be forced to pretend they're happy. Problem solved. It'd make for a far more interesting movie.

The guy is a fat, ugly, rapist man-child. We're supposed to be cheering for him? Why would a smart, good looking woman go for a man without who is ugly, stupid and has the personality of a spoiled child? For dog's sake, it's the 21th century. Hollywood does this trope all the time and I'm disappointed to learn that Korea does as well. If Eunjin was ugly as well, it'd make total sense. But Eunjin is conventionally pretty.

She finally falls for him because he's just sooooo nice. Barf. The movie tries to make Eunjin seem rough and mean and her husband seem nice. Yeah, who's the once getting married and getting knocked up even though it goes against all she is and believes in for the sake of someone she hasn't met in years? That's really nice. Making soup for a cancer patient and going to see your SIL in the hospital isn't as nice as that. He has NOTHING going for him. Oh, wait. He has basic courtesy. Mmm. Any man with basic courtesy and manner deserves a hot, smart chick! Pander to the ugly male audience! Yeah! The sister only appears to start and validate how good! the husband is.

The scene towards the end with Eunjin in the apron made me groan.

When Eunjin ends up in the hospital, I was okay with it. Better dead than with that ugly, idiot, man-child rapist. Alas, the ending was not so happy.

Could you just imagine a movie being made with the roles reversed?

HOT SMART GANGSTER MAN: Yeah, I'm good looking, smart and people who work for me respect me. Sure, I'm a little rough around the edges but underneath it, I'm a good person. I need to get married because of BS circumstances. :(

UGLY FAT STUPID WOMAN: I'm the only one who will ever take you because of your one flaw of being mean!

HOT SMART GANGSTER MAN: You're right! I should settle for you!

UGLY FAT STUPID WOMAN: And fall in love with me because I'm so nice! Just ignore those times I tired to put things in your orifices without your permission. And then acted offended when you said no. As your wife, I have complete right over your body to do as I please! Who says a rapist can't be a good person?

HOT SMART GANGSTER MAN: *swoon* *blubber* You're so nice. <3 <3 <3

UGLY FAT STUPID RAPIST WOMAN: Yup, and wouldn't you know it, I evened the score for you while you're in the hospital. I don't know the first thing about being a gangster or killing. But yeah, it's so easy that I take out 46 people in one go. And you haven't even killed one of 'em! Must be my awesome lady bits.

Some comic moments

[dmuel · 13 March 2002]

In contrast to the glowing reviews from other viewers, I would give this film a 6, maybe a 7, out of 10. While the fight scenes are well choreographed and entertaining, the humor in this film fits awkwardly with its melodrama. Humor there is and, when dealing with the misfit gangsters working for the protagonist, it is genuinely funny. However, Ms. Eun-Kyung Shin, in the lead role as the gangster wife, has the difficult job of trying to portray a character we are intended to feel sympathetic toward, in some scenes, while in other settings she presents as a vicious and ruthless sociopath. Her relationship with her husband exhibits tenderness a little too late for a credible attachment to develop. Her husband's nebbish character seems to capitulate more for the script than any believable budding affection, particularly after the abuse he suffers from her. We are asked to sympathize with the gangsters even though there is little reason to feel any sympathy for them, they are either clowns or killers. The fumbling attempts at injecting soap opera-like themes in the film gives the movie an asymmetry, not a richer story.

Excellent movie, good blend of comedy and action

[yojimbo999 · 10/10 · 12 March 2002]

Excellent story and premise, and the whole thing is well-executed. The lead is believable as both the tough gangster and the sympathetic sister trying to please her dying older sister. A most excellent film with some laugh-out loud moments and genuine drama towards the end. Good action, too, but it's not an action movie, so don't go expecting a lot of violence.

Original idea and well filmed.

[humpity · 8/10 · 24 February 2005]

Don't know why this flick is getting flamed so much. It's a decent plot and well produced. It would satisfy most family members and pass easily as a good evening's entertainment. The style is typically Korean-Gangster, which is not a bad thing, with comedy cuts thrown in appropriately. The main actress portrays a very modern side of a feminine character which you wouldn't everyday see, owing to the make belief role. This itself makes you want to watch a bit more. The violence is quite rightly toned down for this genre but the action scenes still nicely filmed without too many slow-mo shots. The sequel is evidence of this film's popularity, which by the way should be watched in sequence as there are some backward references.

Highly entertaining Korean action/comedy.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 2 October 2006]

Eun-Jin, a ruthless gangster boss, is reunited with her long lost sister, only to find that she is suffering from a terminal illness. Her sister's dying wish is to see Eun-Jin happily married. Out of respect, Eun-Jin endeavours to fulfil the wish and instructs her men to find her a husband, but finding a suitable partner proves to be harder than she at first expected. However, a chance meeting with Kang Soo-Il, a kind-natured bachelor who attempts to protect Eun-Jin from some thugs, provides her with the perfect answer to her dilemma. The two quickly marry, but with Eun-Jin keeping her 'vocation' a secret from her husband and refusing to consummate the marriage, the result is anything but wedded bliss.

The trailer for My Wife is a Gangster presents the film as an all-out action film but, whilst there certainly are some entertaining fight scenes, the movie is primarily a comedy. The strained relationship between the totally incompatible Eun-Jin and Kang is perfectly realised by Shin Eun-kyung and Park Sang-myun, with Shin's tough girl bullying poor old Kang until he can take no more. However, Eun-Jin's sister makes one more suggestion before she kicks the bucket: Eun-Jin and Kang should have a baby. So, Kang finally gets to 'seal the deal' with his wife, but strictly on her terms.

MWIAG may not have you laughing out loud, but the film is consistently amusing throughout its 108 minute running time (and a far sight funnier than any Asian comedy I have seen of late!). Despite the obvious use of some wire-work and the actors not being trained fighters, the action scenes are pretty cool, and at times the film even manages to be surprisingly brutal (the bit where a guy takes a beating with a baseball bat is particularly nasty).

At turns violent, funny, touching and thrilling, this film is a real treat and a must-see for fans of Asian cinema. See it before the upcoming Hollywood remake (rumoured to star Queen Latifah) besmirches its good name.

7.5 out of 10 (rounded up to 8 out of 10 for IMDb).

This is a hilarious comedy with a message

[urabutln · 8 January 2003]

One point that seems to have escaped most of the comments on this page is the fact that the film makes a strong point about Korean/Asian womens position in society. (Warning, The below text contains two comments that might be considered "spoilers")

The tables are turned in this film, the husband is the one who is gentle and caring, he does cooking and buys a gigant teddy bear for his wife. The woman is the one who is insensitive and violent, coming home drunk, one time she rapes her husband after coming home drunk. Also the gangster womans sidekick treats his girlfriend very badly, until she makes the point, "Your boss is also a woman but you treat her with respect, whats so different about us?".

I think maybe this whole thing needs to be taken into consideration to understand all of the jokes in the film.