SEX IS ZERO (2002)

Written & Directed By: Yoon Je-Kyoon
Cinematography By: Yeong-Cheol Kim 
Editor: Sun-min Kim 


Cast: Chang Jung Lim, Ji-Won Ha, Chae-Young Yu, Min Jung, Jae-Young Jim 

 At Sunjong University, a few students are serious, including Eun-hyo, who works hard at aerobics in hopes of doing well in a national competition. Most students goof off: drinking, partying, and focusing on sex. Eun-shik, a law student who's been in the military, is older but socially inept. He likes Eun-hyo; even though his earnest and simple side appeals to her, his juvenile excesses make him irrelevant when Sung-ok, a good-looking rich kid, charms Eun-hyo. They begin an affair, leaving Eun-shik on the sidelines. The national competition approaches and complications arise.

This movie I will admit is hard to stomach. As it seems to go for so many gross out gags. Though it is also hilarious, sexy and heartbreaking. This film seems to be an homage to all those teenage sex comedies of the 1980's (though it hits quite a few notes if THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN only more upbeat and less skeevy)

1980's teen sex comedies those films of that by gone era with sexist humor, sophomoric jokes, homophobia, rampant misogyny, nudity, stereotypes, culture clashes, sexual harassment. That you wouldn't be able to get away with on screen in these times as much. At least in America Though at the time were the highlight of most comedies. Especially ones aimed at young people. Then we wonder how these beliefs are still being upheld even though the president represents all of those and more. Thank god for foreign cinema. it hits all the right notes of being funny, stupid, tender, sweet, sad all within the same scene. If you are a fan of those movies. You should definitely check this one out.

It's a Korean comedy that has a few Korean culture jokes, but aside from that, this is an infectous foreign comedy where the less you know what to expect, the better. As you go on with virgin eyes.

The film is really is a take off of not only the film THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN. Which itself was a remake of LEMON POPSICLE, but as the popsicle films had a trilogy. He virgin films didn't but this film actually has a sequel that’s more it's own than remaking anything. Though luckily this film doesn’t follow the plot beat by beat. Allowing for this film to have it’s own input and charms.

This film is pretty much a gross out comedy that has heart at times but whose direction and focus is more on juvenile gags more than anything else. So if expecting something more or think something get's lost in translation. Make no mistake the film knows where it's heart lies and expects the audience to know the same.

Though you know what the main storyline is. This film benefits from being more of an ensemble film. Where the rest of the cast gets to shine and it allows to show the camaraderie and how in the end they all come through for one another, Just so you know there is a sequel/companion piece to the film.


GRADE: B-