(Movie Review) 'The First Ride' buckles up for more than joyride

All News 11:46 October 23, 2025

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- The upcoming comedy "The First Ride" begins with a first-person voice-over narration by Yeon-min (Cha Eun-woo), a shy, solitary boy who is welcomed into a group of three boys in elementary school, marking the beginning of their enduring friendship.

As he grows up, Yeon-min charms everyone with his striking good looks. But he is comically oblivious to the reason, believing he should become a comedian instead of pursuing his long-held dream of being a DJ.

Cha Eun-woo stars as Yeon-min who charms women of all ages with his handsome looks, in this still from "The First Ride," provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

His three friends each have their own distinct personalities: Tae-jung (Kang Ha-neul) is the golden boy who is academically brilliant and also the school's top fighter. Do-jin (Kim Young-kwang) is the lovable goofball whose dreams of basketball stardom are crushed by injury. And finally, there is Geum-bok (Kang Young-seok), a son of a Buddhist nun who hates studying so much he has mastered the art of sleeping with his eyes open.

The four childhood buddies remain inseparable throughout their school years, and together they become an increasingly chaotic and hilarious handful.

In their high school senior year, they plan to travel to Thailand to attend a music festival where a famous DJ adored by Yeon-min and Do-jin is set to take center stage. To persuade their reluctant parents, Tae-jung cuts back on sleep to study relentlessly, ultimately achieving a perfect score on the college entrance exam. Their first overseas trip, however, goes awry after an unexpected "incident" at a highway rest area.

The four characters -- Yeon-min, Do-jin, Tae-jung and Geum-bok (from L) -- are featured in this still from "The First Ride," provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Fast-forward to the present: Tae-jung has becomes a legislative aide, Geum-bok works as a tattooist at the temple where his mother serves as a Buddhist nun and Do-jin mysteriously suffers from a mental illness. Yeon-min is nowhere to be seen as he has moved to New Zealand.

At Do-jin's insistence on fulfilling their decade-old high school dream of traveling abroad together, the three friends, along with Ok-sim (Han Sun-hwa) who has long harbored a crush on Tae-jung, finally embark on a trip to Thailand. Yeon-min also joins them, albeit in the form of a dummy. Their long-anticipated journey, however, quickly derails into a whirlwind of hilariously absurd and unpredictable events.

Tae-jung, portrayed by Kang Ha-neul, is seen at the airport before departing for Thailand in this still from "The First Ride," provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Director Nam Dae-jung teams up again with actor Kang in this upcoming film, hoping to repeat the box-office success of their 2023 romantic comedy "Love Reset."

Kang effortlessly nails the role of the "perfect model student" whose extreme, almost pathological diligence gets to the point where it becomes hilarious. Other cast members all deliver performances for their eccentric characters with straight-faced charms that help ground the film. While watching the actors in their mid-30s, aside from Cha, play teenagers in school uniforms stretches credibility, it is also an acceptable leap for a comedy.

The film's pacing sags somewhat in the middle, but it regains its footing with a well-executed twist at the end, which successfully addresses earlier plot holes. So it is worth sticking around to see how it all comes together.

"The First Ride" is set for release next Wednesday.