Country bumpkin Im Shi-wan asserts his Boyhood

28 November 11, 2023November 15, 2023

Country bumpkin Im Shi-wan asserts his Boyhood

by solstices

Cuteness and comic relief abound in the first teaser for Coupang Play original Boyhood, featuring a bumbling country bumpkin trying to find his footing in a new town. At a short and sweet ten episodes, this action-comedy promises a fun blend of hilarious hijinks and retro nostalgia — I’m definitely looking forward to its release.

Im Shi-wan (Summer Strike) stars as Jang Byung-tae, who’s known for being “Onyang’s Loser,” ha. Timid and weak, he’s at the bottom of the food chain in school — every boy ought to have a dream in life, he declares, and his is to avoid getting beaten up. When his family decides to leave town one night, Byung-tae is devastated. A new school means a new pecking order, which will have him smacked into submission all over again.

There’s another new transfer in Buyeo — Lee Shi-woo (See You in My 19th Life) plays Jung Kyung-tae, whose reputation precedes him. Nicknamed “Asan’s White Tiger,” Kyung-tae supposedly defeated 17 opponents all on his own. Gossip spreads quick, and soon the entire school is nervously anticipating the White Tiger’s arrival — except it’s Byung-tae who steps out of the police car, thus kickstarting a hilarious case of mistaken identity.

Byung-tae may be more of a meek kitten than a ferocious tiger, but his fellow students are so convinced by the rumours that they somehow manage to overlook his instinctive flinches and ineffective shovel-wielding. That is, except for Lee Sun-bin (Work Later, Drink Now 2), who’s fiesty as ever. Playing the infamous “Buyeo’s Black Spider” Park Ji-young, she’s the strongest fighter in the area — her fists will protect her ideals and the people she cares for.

Rounding out the main cast, we have Kang Hye-won (Seasons of Blossom) as Kang Sun-hwa. With her good looks, impeccable fashion sense, and gentle demeanor, she’s practically every guy’s first love, earning herself the moniker of “Buyeo’s Sophie Marceau.” We don’t see much of her yet, but she’ll be an interesting contrast to our gung-ho fighter trio.

It’s shaping up to be a wild ride for Byung-tae, who must manage both his fluffy bowl cut and his newfound stardom at the peak of the power hierarchy. With Ji-young out to test him, and Kyung-tae presumably out to reclaim his title, Byung-tae’s journey might be as bumpy as the fields he’s learnt to till — but perhaps at the end of it all, there’ll be a bountiful harvest awaiting.

Helmed by PD Lee Myung-woo (One Ordinary Day, The Fiery Priest) with scripts written by Kim Jae-hwan, Boyhood is slated for a November 24 premiere.

Via Edaily, Sports Kyunghyang

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1 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️

November 11, 2023 at 12:20 AM

Based on that trailer I am in, but we will see if there are any elements in the ‘action’ that takes it off the watchlist.

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2 Babylilo

November 11, 2023 at 1:34 AM

While Im Si-Wan (who turns 35 next month) may be the epitome of boyish charm, what in the world is he doing playing a high schooler? Is it some sort of in-joke that I’m just not getting?

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Kafiyah Bello

November 11, 2023 at 3:14 AM

Yeah, lol, this is what is taking me out. He is simply too old for this role.

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Babylilo

November 11, 2023 at 8:20 AM

I plan to give it a chance. Maybe they’ll make his age some sort of meta in-joke? That could be hilarious!

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Elinor is trapped in the timeslip

November 11, 2023 at 12:30 PM

Maybe it will be like Jo Hyun-sik, who was then 35, playing a HS kid in Thirty But Seventeen with the other characters constantly joking about how old he looked. But still, this just seems off. The premise sounds super fun, though, and I'm more than willing to give it a try.

Sophie Marceau is also an odd choice to represent every (Korean HS) guy's first love. I suspect Sun-hwa won't adopt her trademark of appearing topless at least once in every film. 😆

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DancingEmma

November 11, 2023 at 12:43 PM

@elinor: It was funny in TBS for exactly that. I could live with it but this bizarre trope has worn thin for me. I wonder why this casting practice took such hold? Apart from the effort involved in finding younger actors for these roles, it seems to rest on the idea that Koreans don’t age between 16-35. It also tangentially feeds into some western viewers assumptions.

Kurama

November 11, 2023 at 2:06 PM

La Boum was a success in Korea. They loved this movie and Sophie Marceau.

DancingEmma

November 11, 2023 at 4:40 AM

Yeah. It is all kind of wrong.

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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️

November 11, 2023 at 12:46 PM

I think it’s more about big names bring commercial success. Any time they have casts predominantly made up of young actors we tend to get complaints about them being green.

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DancingEmma

November 11, 2023 at 12:56 PM

I understand that concern in this horrifyingly competitive industry but the big names will still be there so maybe it is also a budgetary consideration that it is overall cheaper to retain the big names rather than bring in younger actors.
As to the collective complaints about the younger actors being green, it is such an absurdly categorical one as they are not a monolithic group. Many younger actors are exceptional and can hold their own. I also like the idea that younger actors learn from their more experienced peers and evolve. What I find insufferable is when undeserving adult actors become leads despite their green acting.

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DancingEmma

November 11, 2023 at 1:02 PM

i forgot to add that I know our views as *international viewers mean nothing in the scheme of things but for the purposes of our convo, it makes sense.
* There are a few commenters who are DB’s greek chorus on this.

jillian

November 11, 2023 at 4:46 PM

I second this.

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Gikata

November 12, 2023 at 7:27 AM

He's nowhere near the only one in this cast who's clearly off age-wise. Perhaps there's gonna be some content in this show that real teen actors shouldn't be involved in? Lots of content, I suppose.

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Babylilo

November 12, 2023 at 8:20 AM

I just noticed the director is also responsible for that pedophilic creepshow, Backstreet Rookie. Not a good sign.

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Kurama

November 12, 2023 at 8:52 AM

Pedophilic? She was 22 years old and he was 29 years old.

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Babylilo

November 12, 2023 at 9:12 AM

I was thinking of some of the scenes that sexualized high school girls: the girl bumming cigarettes from and then kissing an adult, suggestive shots of underage girls in short skirts at karaoke, etc.

Kurama

November 12, 2023 at 9:40 AM

There were normal teenager girls who are rebelling : smoking, shorten the uniform skirts... It wasn't shown as good thing, it was clear their behavior wasn't good.

Babylilo

November 12, 2023 at 10:53 AM

@kurama - It’s a fine line between “true-to-life” and exploitation. In this instance, it appears we stand on opposite sides of the line!

PYC

November 12, 2023 at 7:38 AM

I was quite looking forward to this - until I read now about the high school setting. Everyone in every pic here can’t pull out the high school vibe, not even Im Shi-wan. Lee Sun-bin has a natural mature look but she can be mistaken here as a parent…

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3 Kurama

November 11, 2023 at 3:45 AM

It reminds me Adolescent Medley but Kwak Dong-Yeon and Lee Se-Young were more convincing as highschool student than Im Shi-Wan and Lee Sun-bin.

I'm not sure about ISW in a comedy. I think he's better in introvert and shy roles.

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4 HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆

November 11, 2023 at 4:36 AM

The news releases and descriptions sounded odd to me until I saw the teaser, but now I'm looking forward to this and hoping it's really, truly a comedy!!

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

November 11, 2023 at 10:49 PM

Agreed ... it all sounded sus until now.

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5 books7time

November 11, 2023 at 8:20 AM

Im Shi Wan is one of the few actors who I will try any project of his just for him (beside the creepy one he just did. eek). So, hell yes!

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6 Diana Hansen

November 11, 2023 at 8:48 AM

This one, I'm either gonna love it or hate it. No in between. The humor has to be done right or I'm out. I do like Im Shi-won so I'll give it the old 4 episode try to see if it tickles my funny bone or not. +=+

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

November 11, 2023 at 10:48 PM

Humor is the only thing that will make this fly.

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7 aicaramba

November 11, 2023 at 5:56 PM

What brilliant writing, @solstices! It's amazing how you gleamed so much meaning from a short trailer. The trailer's good, but I'm excited for this because of your writeup!!