'Made in Korea' review: Netflix's underwhelming film wastes its potential
What's the story
The cross-cultural drama Made in Korea, led by Priyanka Mohan (Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, They Call Him OG), is out on Netflix. The film was shot in Tamil Nadu and Seoul and also stars South Korean actors Park Hye-jin and No Ho-jin in key roles. Directed by Ra Karthik, the drama teems with potential but is undone by its superficial storytelling.
Plot
Follows an Indian girl who dreams of visiting Korea
Made in Korea follows Shenba (Mohan), who hails from a small town in Tamil Nadu. Since childhood, she's been fascinated by South Korean culture, and has made it her life's ambition to visit the country. When she finally lands in Seoul, though, nothing comes easy, and she finds herself completely lost among strangers. Will Shenba find a way or return to India?
#1
Interesting premise, but nothing else
Made in Korea has an engaging premise that could have been explored in several interesting ways, but Karthik chooses to constrict his ideas. Shenba's love for South Korea is narrated to us hastily, and we don't properly understand how her obsession with a foreign nation began. Loving Korea is her entire personality, but what's the detailed story behind it? Nobody knows.
#2
Even good actors struggle to save the film
Squid Game actor Park, who plays Shenba's employer in Seoul, brings a lot of spunk and spirit to the story. However, her character, like everybody else's, suffers from poor, weak writing and has an entirely predictable arc. Moreover, all conflicts have easy, convenient resolutions, so you can't take anything seriously. It's this frivolous tone that sinks Made in Korea completely.
#3
Looking for logic? Look elsewhere
Made in Korea is plagued by endless loopholes. Shenba's obsession with Korea is all-consuming, yet when she reaches Seoul, she's unable to speak the language! The narrative always remains in a rush; characters pop up out of nowhere, and the plot twists never take you by surprise because they're so painfully obvious. Much of the plot is advanced haphazardly through songs, leaving no impact.
#4
More on the above aspect
Made in Korea quickly begins to sound like a broken record; we are told the same things about Shenba over and over again. Her voice-over in random scenes further mars the experience; why explain the story to us when we can already see it on-screen? There's no consistency, neither to the story nor to her character, and Shenba comes across as an unlikeable protagonist.
Verdict
Not worth your time; 2/5 stars
Made in Korea has something to say about how friendships can bloom despite differences in age, cultures, and languages. But this important, warm theme is buried under the film's lackluster execution and flimsy treatment of sub-plots. With little to no logic and a predictable storyline, Made in Korea fails to draw you in. This Seoul-set story desperately needed a soul. 2/5 stars.