“Smugglers”

The candy-colored style and groovy 70s tone of director Seung-wan Ryu’s “Smugglers” are two of the only things I enjoyed about this wacky film. This over-the-top (and convoluted) story of free divers turned petty criminals turned skilled smugglers has its moments, but they aren’t strong enough to carry the rest of the project.

The film is bloody and violent, but never graphic or gory. The action scenes and fight choreography are mediocre and less than exciting, especially for a project that feels like it’s aiming to be an epic cinematic event. It borrows from films like “Ocean’s 11” and “Death Proof,” with plenty of double-crossings and physical brawls interwoven with a story that’s anchored by robust female relationships.

The story takes too long to get going, and while Seung-wan is confident, the film never reaches its full potential. It’s unfocused, trying desperately to be too many things (be it a comedy farce, a white-knuckle action flick, a crime thriller, or a classic heist).

I do admire the feminist slant to the story, which has its fair share of girl power themes. The roles are meaty and the actors skilled, and it’s great to see so many quality roles for women (not to mention the variety). The majority of the male characters in the film are untrustworthy, unethical, or just plain bad, and it’s the women who outsmart them all.

The film’s most fun and exciting moment happens near the end, with an underwater fight sequence that’s as inspired as it is memorable. It comes too late to salvage the stale parts leading up to the finale, however.

“Smugglers” suffers from a mediocre script, characters that aren’t engaging, and an exhausting repetitiveness that quickly wore me down. I can see how this movie will appeal to some, it’s just not for me.

By: Louisa Moore