Cha Chul-soo (Kang) is an unkempt, overweight police detective who would rather catch bad guys than take a shower. But Chul-soo is forced to change his slovenly ways when he`s assigned to break up a drug trafficking ring embedded in the local modeling industry. At the mercy of newbie designer and childhood friend Ko Young-Jae (Sung), Chul-soo must lose 20kg and clean up his act in time to hit the runway as an undercover model.
Not coincidentally, the first half of Runway Cop is more enjoyable than the second mainly because Chul-soo has yet to undergo his slightly implausible makeover. The jokes are less politically correct but also sharper, and Chul-soo himself is a much funnier and livelier character when his charm and kind heart are literally tucked away under layers of dirt and fat.
Once Chul-soo emerges from his training regimen as a super-sexy dude with washboard abs and unbearably cool red hair, the film loses most of its steam. Its plot meanders along in an unfocused and yet predictable fashion, as its protagonist becomes friends with his fellow catwalk-strutters and works doubly hard to ensure Young-Jae`s show is a success.
Kang is well worth the watch, however. With his smouldering good looks and chiseled body, there`s no doubt he belongs on a runway. But it`s just as much (if not more) fun to bear witness to him depositing his vanity at the door. He is hilarious and utterly committed to the part, whether he`s fending off a popcorn assault or dancing across a row of cars in a drug-induced haze. It`s a pity the rest of the film can`t quite keep up with his energy and verve.
Summary: This film limps when it should strut like a supermodel, but Kang`s performance is worth the price of admission.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Shawne Wang