Slick, suave, and swift, this crime caper delivers equal parts thrilling action and amusing levity within a tried-and-true framework. Sometimes simple is best, and The Roundup: No Way Out proves that age-old adage with a dependable hero, several conniving villains, and a whole lot of fighting.
MOVIE REVIEW
I have to admit I haven’t watched the previous two installments (dishonor on my cow, I know!) of the Outlaws franchise, but that didn’t mar my enjoyment one bit. Featuring a standalone case centered around an illicit drug operation that spans three countries, The Roundup: No Way Out is a fast-paced flick that promises a fun time for newbie and veteran audiences alike.
Unquestionably the star of the show, Ma Dong-seok reprises his role as the bulldozer cop MA SEOK-DO. Not only does he achieve anything he sets his mind to by hook or by crook, but he also quite literally barrels his way through any opponents that are foolish enough to stand in his way.
This time, his adversary is Lee Jun-hyuk, who opens the film by bludgeoning an undercover detective to his bloody end. As JOO SUNG-CHUL, he’s the leader of a drug smuggling operation who has absolutely no tolerance for slip-ups or shoddy work. At first glance, Sung-chul is your typical suit-wearing, smooth-talking mafia man — until Seok-do’s investigations lead him to the narcotics unit at the police station, and team leader Sung-chul strides in.
If you’re a Lee Jun-hyuk fan like I am, this movie is a real treat. Sung-chul exudes self-assured poise and shrewd cunning at every turn, drawing tension taut over his cat-and-mouse game with Seok-do. Tousled long locks, sharply pressed suits, and a dangerously maniacal grin? I’m sold.
Things start to go awry for Sung-chul when his avaricious hubris has him biting off more than he can chew. Sung-chul cuts a lucrative deal with a Chinese triad, but he’s unable to deliver the 20 kilograms of drugs that he promised when his middleman TOMO (Ahn Se-ho) takes off with the goods. Turns out the yakuza head ICHIZO (Kunimura Jun) has caught on, and he’s not pleased that Sung-chul has been squirreling away his drugs right under his nose.
In retaliation, Ichizo sends the lethal hitman RIKI (Munetaka Aoki) after the traitors to punish their betrayal. As someone who’s particularly fond of swords, the skirmish featuring Riki and his katana was one of the movie’s highlights, and a much-needed breath of fresh air amidst all the fistfights.
Meanwhile, Seok-do is hot on the criminals’ heels. We follow his (mis)adventures as he ventures into a nightclub, shakes down a local gang, and ransacks a fleet of yachts. That involves teaming up with unlikely allies, who play the bumbling counterparts to Seok-do’s no-nonsense pragmatism. When I described Seok-do as a bulldozer, I meant it; even when outnumbered, he easily overpowers his enemies, breezing his way through countless altercations with the sheer strength of his fists.
The best part about this film, though, is the humor. Seok-do is the embodiment of a tired grizzly bear, and he doesn’t hesitate to humble his opponents and put them in their place like a schoolteacher reprimanding errant troublemakers. Peppered throughout the movie are amusing quips delivered with impeccable comic timing (“Maha? Your surname is Ma too?”), and the juxtaposition of physical comedy with wide shots and a deadpan atmosphere leads to some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments.
One particularly memorable scene is the makeshift interrogation of informant KIM YANG-HO (Jeon Suk-ho). If you haven’t watched it already, the hilarity of Ma Dong-seok sitting on a rotating love motel bed as jazzy music plays and disco lights flash is something that simply has to be witnessed in motion.
Admittedly, the movie falters when it comes to fleshing out its characters. Other than a few cursory lines explaining our villains’ motivations, not much is done to humanize them. The action sequences overshadow the emotional arcs by far, which means it’s fun to watch the brawls as a spectator, but it’s difficult to care about the characters even when some meet their demise.
For that reason, the ending fell a little flat for me. While each fight sequence was well-choreographed, their overall repetitiveness grew somewhat stale by the movie’s conclusion. Also, Seok-do may have protagonist plot armor, but it does reach a point where his ability to power through numerous injuries gets implausibly ludicrous. Given the wily schemes of our bad guys and Sung-chul’s impressive double-crossing, I was anticipating more strategizing on the part of our heroes, but then again I suppose the spotlight is meant to shine on Seok-do’s fists.
Still, the film is executed satisfyingly well. It doesn’t put on pretentious airs or attempt to elevate itself above its genre. Instead, it fully embraces the comedy and the absurdity of its sparring sequences. At its core, The Roundup: No Way Out is a simple action flick done right; while it may not be particularly groundbreaking or memorable, it’s definitely an enjoyable ride.