Switch (2023 film)

{{short description|2023 South Korean comedy drama film}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Switch

| image = Switch 2023 film.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| native_name = {{Infobox Korean film name

| hangul = 스위치

| hanja =

| rr = Sewichi}}

| based_on =

| director = Ma Dae-yun

| producer = Kim Won-guk

| writer = Ma Dae-yun

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Jo Seong-woo

| cinematography = Kim Il-yeon

| editing = Jeong Ji-eun

| studio = {{Plainlist|

  • Hive Media Corp }}

| distributor = Lotte Entertainment

| released = {{Film date|2023|1|4|}}

| runtime = 112 minutes

| country = South Korea

| language = Korean

| budget =

| gross = {{USD|3.1 million}}{{cite Box Office Mojo|title=Switch (2023)|id=24076346|access-date=24 January 2024}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/boxOffice_Yearly.jsp?mode=BOXOFFICE_YEAR&selectDt=2023&category=ALL&country=K|title=KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2023|access-date= January 23, 2023 |work=KOFIC}}

}}

Switch ({{ko-hhrm|스위치||Sewichi}}) is a 2023 South Korean comedy-drama film written and directed by Ma Dae-yun. Starring Kwon Sang-woo, Oh Jung-se, and Lee Min-jung, it follows Park Kang, a top star who enjoys a splendid single life, and faces a moment when his life changes 180 degrees when he meets a taxi driver on Christmas Eve.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/117/0003674955|title=권상우→이민정 '스위치', 2023년 1월 4일 개봉 확정 [공식]|trans-title=Kwon Sang-woo → Lee Min-jung 'Switch' confirmed to be released on January 4, 2023 [Official]|author=Kim Nara |work=My Daily|publisher=Naver|date=December 5, 2022|access-date=December 5, 2022|language=ko}} The film was released theatrically in South Korea on January 4, 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/109/0004752800|title='스위치' 권상우X이민정X오정세, 하루만에 180도 바뀐 인생..극과극 라이프 |trans-title='Switch' Kwon Sang-Christmas Evewoo X Lee Min-jung X Oh Jeong-se, life changed 180 degrees in one day|author=Park Pan-seok |work=Osen|publisher=Naver|date=December 5, 2022|access-date=December 5, 2022|language=ko}}

Plot

Park Kang is a top-tier actor and scandal magnet who seems to have it all, with fame, fortune, and a glamorous single life. On Christmas Eve, however, his glittering existence feels empty as he finds himself holding nothing but an end-of-year trophy.

After a night of drinking with his only friend and loyal manager Jo Yoon, Park Kang wakes up in a strange house surrounded by two unfamiliar children and his first love Soo-hyun, whom he left behind for success. Adding to the confusion, Jo Yoon is now a superstar, taking over the celebrity spotlight that used to be his.

As his life spins out of control, Park Kang begins to recall a strange remark from the taxi driver the night before, prompting him to question the choices that led him here. Faced with an entirely new reality, he must confront his past and find a way forward in a world turned upside down.

Cast

  • Kwon Sang-woo as Park Kang
  • Oh Jung-se as Jo Yoon{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=477&aid=0000394683|author=Kang Hyo-jin|title=권상우·오정세·이민정 주연 영화 '스위치', 2023년 1월 개봉[공식]|trans-title=The movie 'Switch' starring Kwon Sang-woo, Oh Jeong-se, and Lee Min-jung will be released in January 2023 [Official]|publisher=Sports TV News|via=Naver|date=November 16, 2022|access-date=November 16, 2022|language=ko}}
  • Lee Min-jung as Gong Soo-hyun
  • Park So-yi as Park Ro-hee{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=437&aid=0000324175|author=Kim Seon-woo|title=아역계의 아이유·박보검"…'스위치' 박소이·김준, 대세들의 만남|trans-title=IU and Park Bo-gum of child actors"... 'Switch' Park So-yi and Kim Joon, the meeting of the big trend|work=JTBC|via=Naver|date=December 7, 2022|access-date=December 7, 2022|language=ko}}
  • Kim Joon as Park Ro-ha{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/629/0000186144|title=하루 아침에 인생이 180도 달라졌다!…영화 '스위치' [TF사진관]|trans-title=Life changed 180 degrees overnight! Movie 'Switch' [TF Studio] |author=Lee Seon-hwa |work=The Fact |publisher=Naver |date=November 23, 2022|access-date=December 5, 2022|language=ko}}
  • Kim Mi-kyung as Park Kang's mother
  • Cha Hee as Woo Hee{{Cite web |last=Park Yoon-jin |date=January 10, 2023 |title='스위치' 오정세 짝사랑녀 차희, 보이시한 매력으로 '눈길' |trans-title='Switch' Oh Jeong-se's unrequited love girl, Cha-hee, draws attention with her boyish charm |url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=117&aid=0003686470 |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=My Daily |language=ko}}
  • Yoo Jae-myung as Park Dong-baek
  • Hwang Seung-eon as Lee Hwa-young
  • Kim Ha-young as bride{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=076&aid=0003954694 |author=Lee Ji-hyun |title='서프라이즈 여자걔' 김하영, 권상우와 영혼결혼식 "또 시집...여한이 없네요|website=Sports Chosun|via=Naver |date=December 28, 2022 |access-date=December 28, 2022 |language=ko}}

Production

Switch marks the comeback of Lee Min-jung in films, her last appearance was in rom-com Wonderful Radio (2012).{{cite web|url=https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/news.jsp?blbdComCd=601006&seq=5501&mode=VIEW|title=KWON Sang-woo, OH Jung-se and LEE Min-jung Open CHRISTMAS PRESENT |author=Pierce Conran |work=KOFIC|date=February 8, 2021|access-date=December 5, 2022|language=ko}}{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/001/0013671090 |title= '스위치' 이민정 "11년 만 스크린 복귀…긴장보다 설렘 커" |trans-title= 'Switch' Lee Min-jung "Returning to the screen after 11 years... Excitement is greater than tension" |author= Kim Jeong-jin |work= Yonhap News |publisher=Naver |date=December 29, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2022|language=ko}} Principal photography began on January 17, 2021,{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000389087|title= "종합선물세트" 권상우X오정세X이민정 '크리스마스 선물' 크랭크인(공식)|trans-title=“Comprehensive gift set” Kwon Sang-woo X Oh Jeong-se X Lee Min-jung 'Christmas Gift' crank-in (official) |author= Bae Hyo-joo|work= Newsen|publisher=Naver |date=January 20, 2021|access-date=December 6, 2022|language=ko}} and was wrapped up on March 29, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0003415537|title=이민정, '크리스마스 선물' 크랭크업 "끝나니 뭔가 아쉽네요"|trans-title=Lee Min-jung, 'Christmas Gift' crank-up "It's a pity that it's over"|work=Herald POP|publisher=Naver |date=March 29, 2021|access-date=December 6, 2022|language=ko}}

Release

On November 16, 2022, the distribution company Lotte Entertainment released the first multiverse poster and trailer, announcing the title of the film as Switch, which was previously known as "The Christmas Present" ({{lang|ko-Hang|크리스마스 선물}}, keuriseumaseu seonmul).{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/now/article/609/0000653869|title= 권상우X오정세X이민정 '스위치' 2023년 1월 개봉[공식]|trans-title= Kwon Sang-woo X Oh Jeong-se X Lee Min-jung 'Switch' to be released in January 2023 [Official] |author= Bae Hyo-joo|work= Newsen |publisher=Naver |date= November 16, 2022|access-date=December 6, 2022|language=ko}} On December 5, 2022 it was announced that the film will premiere on January 4, 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/312/0000583802 |title= [공식] 권상우·오정세·이민정 '스위치', 내년 1월 4일 개봉 확정 |trans-title= [Official] Kwon Sang-woo, Oh Jeong-se, and Lee Min-jung's 'Switch' confirmed to be released on January 4 next year|author= Kang Min-kyung |work=Ten Asia |publisher= Naver |date= December 5, 2022 |access-date= December 6, 2022 |language=ko}}

On January 3, 2022 a special money-back guarantee screening of the film was held. A full refund of the admission fee was offered to the audience in case they were dissatisfied with the film and presented the ticket at the box office within 20 minutes after the screening of the film.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/112/0003608140 |title= [POP초점]"호평에 자신감"..'스위치', 100% 환불보장 상영회 개최→입소문 날까|trans-title= [POP focus] "Confidence in favorable reviews"..'Switch', 100% money-back guarantee screening held → Will it go viral? |work= Herald POP |publisher=Naver |date=January 3, 2023|access-date=January 3, 2023|language=ko}}

Reception

The film released on January 4, 2023, on 912 screens. It opened at 5th place with 30,513 admissions at the Korean box office.{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/boxOffice_Daily.jsp?mode=BOXOFFICE_DAILY&startYMD=20221228&endYMD=20230104&searchFrom=Dec-28-2022&searchTo=Jan-04-2023&category=ALL&country=K|title=KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Daily Box office: Korean films of 2023|access-date= January 5, 2023 |work=KOFIC}}{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/311/0001542798 |title= '스위치' 새해 첫 韓 영화 포문…'평점 4.46' 입소문 호평 본격 시작|trans-title= 'Switch' New year's first Korean movie... 'Rating of 4.46' Word-of-mouth reviews begin in earnest|author= Kim Yu-jin|work= Xports News |publisher=Naver |date=January 5, 2023|access-date=January 5, 2023|language=ko}}

{{As of|2023|12|31|df=US|}}, with gross of US$3,050,961 and 422,417 admissions, it is at 24th place in the Korean films released in 2023.{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20215315|title=Switch 2023 at KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Korean films|access-date= January 6, 2024 |work=KOFIC}}

=Critical response=

Choi Jeong-ah reviewing for Sports World praised the performance of Kwon Sang-woo writing, "Kwon Sang-woo's calm and restrained acting in the second half of the play stimulates the audience's tear glands". Choi concluding, opined, "It is an above-average work in all aspects of acting and directing, fun and emotion, message and sound."{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/396/0000633182 |title= [리뷰] '스위치' 권상우가 권상우했다…티켓값 안 아까운 웃음·감동|trans-title= [Review] 'Switch' Kwon Sang-woo played Kwon Sang-woo... Laughter and emotion worth the ticket price|author= Choi Jeong-ah |work= Sports World |publisher=Naver |date=January 5, 2023|access-date=January 5, 2023|language=ko}} Kim Yu-jin reviewing for Xports News praised the performance of the cast. Kim appreciating acting of Park So-yi and Kim Joon wrote, "Child actors Park So-yi and Kim Joon's performance are a vital force that disarms the entire generation." Kim quoted director Ma Dae-yun's contention that "it's a movie that's good to watch with your family and is like a gift."{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/311/0001542864 |title= 권상우→박소이, 빈틈 없는 웃음·공감 버튼…100% 힐링 보장 (리뷰)['스위치' ON②]|trans-title= Kwon Sang-woo→Park So-yi, a tight laugh/empathy button… 100% Healing Guaranteed (Review)['Switch' ON②]|author= Kim Yu-jin |work= Xports News|publisher=Naver |date=January 5, 2023|access-date=January 5, 2023|language=ko}}

References

{{Reflist}}