SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Films boasting an all-star cast typically guarantee box office success, drawing fans eager to see their favourite actors on the big screen. However, despite its impressive ensemble, director Kim Tae-yong’s fantasy romance “Wonderland” couldn’t overcome its inherent flaws.
The film portrays people reuniting through AI in a simulated virtual world called Wonderland. South Korean heartthrobs Suzy and Park Bo-gum star as a couple, while Chinese actor Tang Wei showcases good chemistry with Gong Yoo.
Jung Yu-mi and Choi Woo-shik play the Wonderland staff.
Despite the star power, “Wonderland” faced an early setback. Just 22 days after its release on June 5, the film became available on video-on-demand (VOD) platforms and is set to appear on Netflix later this month in countries outside Korea.
As of Tuesday, the movie has accumulated 620,000 ticket sales, overshadowed by competition from films like “Furiosa: Mad Max Saga,” “Hijacking 1971,” “Handsome Guys,” and “Inside Out 2.”
Many attribute the movie’s box office failure to its delayed release.
Although completed in 2020, “Wonderland” was postponed due to the pandemic, potentially giving the impression that the film was outdated.
“It feels awkward seeing actors from four years ago. For instance, Park Bo-gum has developed a more manly image after completing his military service, but this movie was shot before his enlistment,” said an industry insider who declined to be named.
Critics also pointed to shortcomings in the plot.
“If this movie had been released a few years ago, it might have seemed fresh and imaginative. But with so many people now exposed to advanced technology and AI services, the storyline feels dull and banal,” said a 30-something moviegoer surnamed Park.
In contrast, first-time director Kim Se-hui’s mystery thriller “Following,” which depicts the secretive life of a voyeur and a pretentious attention-seeking social media influencer, opened in theatres on May 15.
Despite being shot in February 2021, the film drew many viewers, selling 1.2 million tickets.
Similarly, director Nam Dong-hyup’s action comedy “Handsome Guys,” centred on two well-meaning friends who relocate to the suburbs, went viral for its genre-blending approach, providing viewers with an unprecedented experience.
This film, completed in December 2020, also garnered significant attention and success.
