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Trainees by day, detectives by night.
Ki Joon (Park Seo Joon) and Hee Yeol (Kang Ha Neul) meet as new students in a Korean Police University. The former was signed up for the free tuition, while the latter joined to be different from the geeks like him. Their intentions weren't noble at first, and they definitely didn't have their heart set on being cops, however, as they go through training, both of them discover that they're naturals for the job.
They weren't friends in the beginning, either. They were very much different from each other, so Ki Joon didn't really understand Hee Yeol nor cared for him, and Ki Joon got on Hee Yeol's nerves. But after a test of compassion and camaraderie, they instantly bond and become solid bros.
One night, they decide to go out and unwind, but at the end of the evening, they witness a kidnapping. They report the case and urge the local police force to take action, but the incident wasn't a priority for the cops. With the tough Joo Hee (Park Ha Sun) and the veteran Professor Yang (Sung Dong Il) as mentors, they conduct their own (amateur) investigation and get into all sorts of trouble.
Two young and energetic policeman hopefuls who are polar opposites become friends because of their innate compassion in helping others. They're not the best in school and even defy a bunch of rules, but they shine where it matters and when it's needed most—even if they end up putting themselves in danger in the process.
The last time he made you teary-eyed (or uncontrollably sob) was when he played Ko Dong Man, the inspiring (and very funny) lead in Fight for My Way (2017).
The last time he broke your heart was when he played the eighth Prince (Prince Wook) in Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (2016). (Still not over it, TBH, but Ha Neul has since shown that without the Goryeo era hanbok, he's a total sweetheart!)
The last time she played a mentor (like in the movie) was in a drama series entitled Drinking Solo (2016). She was also in the series Temptation (2014) with Choi Ji Woo, Kwon Sang Woo, and Lee Jung Jin.
The most recent drama series he was in were Hwarang (2016) with Park Seo Joon and Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (2016) with Kang Ha Neul. As you may know, he also starred in several other movies and series as a teacher, mentor, general, father, and similar authoritative figures.
"Midnight Runners was fun to watch. It was exciting and filled with adventures. It definitely wasn't a mushy chick flick, so if your girlfriend drags you along to watch the movie, do not reject the idea right away just because it features her K-drama crushes. Expected mo puro pa-cute 'yung mga bida pero hindi at maganda talaga 'yung story. It's almost like Rush Hour—maganda sana if may part two, three, etc. Haha!" —Rozz Randell Cadavillo
As you can gather from my fiancé’s comments, it's the perfect date movie if bae loves action-comedy films or those funny buddy cop thrillers like Rush Hour and 22 Jump Street.
It was also like watching a modern Hwarang complete with hilarious scenes, political authority struggles, and action-packed sequences. Unlike Hwarang, though, it didn't have romantic plotlines (so don't expect to squeal with kilig like we always do while watching mainstream K-dramas.)
But, okay, TBH, if you adore PSJ and KHN, you may not be able to resist smiling like an idiot and gawking at their cuteness. Better prepare bae (and your heart) for that.
Anyway, with the gripping cinematography and storytelling, you will definitely be on the edge of your seats. The fighting scenes were so impressively staged that you'll feel like the pain the characters felt were real. Fair warning: A few themes in the movie might just be uncomfortable for some people, such as the bloody beatings in some parts and the crimes like human trafficking.
When it comes to the actors, I was so impressed with KHN's acting. Like his (darned, blasted, annoyed-and-still-not-over-it) role in Scarlet Heart: Ryeo, his portrayal of Hee Yeol was so far from his very cheerful and ~*kyeopta*~ personality in variety shows, interviews, and his social media posts. He was mysterious and even stoical, which really balanced PSJ's stormy character in the story.
But PSJ, as usual, was totally entertaining! You can really see how professional he is as an actor with his ability to make you root for him, especially when he's caught in a dilemma that tests his conscience and courage. I can't wait to see more of him in dramas and movies.
Anyone who wants a breather from cheesy rom-coms and any girl who'd want to spark their guy's interest in Korean films—aside from fans of PSJ and KHN, of course!
Midnight Runners is now showing! Catch it in cinemas nationwide.
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