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Mar 23, 2016 By Jason Wilson Web Exclusive

At times, Ktown Cowboys wriggles just enough amateurish charm out of its cast and subject matter to make it somewhat enjoyable. Beyond those one or two moments, it’s an unbearable blend of comedy without laughs and drama without weight.

Jason, our Korea Town guide, runs his deceased father’s company that is suddenly in the toilet because of insider trading. He and his friends bounce around Korea Town (hence, the title) in Los Angeles, drinking and carousing and making noise. They all have dreams beyond their present realities. Jason doesn’t believe in his bestowed-upon business, but he feels a duty to his family. One problem is the film tries to cram five people’s stories into 81 minutes. Another problem is the material on screen is poorly realized.

The bulk of the jokes are a smattering of mean-spirited, homophobic, misogynist, and bro-centric. These jokes, and the posturing behind them, could have worked in the end if the leads became the butt of the jokes. They always come out too cleanly. The women in this movie are depicted as vapid and disposable across the board – save maybe for Hanna, a fashion design student. But, she’s barely even in it. Unfunny cameos from Eric Roberts and Ken Jeong don’t help matters. Neither the script nor the performances do the film any favors. Line delivery is especially awkward. It seems like it’s the first rehearsal or first time ever acting for most of these characters. The lines are flat evoking invisible cue cards just off camera. Any humor that might have been mined from some of the set-ups, like Robby being biologically Korean but raised by white parents who want him to teach English in Korea is lost because everything is so slap dash. Similarly, the fourth wall breaking throughout is messy and unnecessary. Many scenes feature big, bold letters on screen repeating the dialog. At best, Ktown Cowboys is fairly inclusive regarding terminology that would likely be lost on anyone unfamiliar with the Korean scene in LA. This goodwill is lost pretty quickly, however.

It occasionally rises above its awful script when the five friends are bantering or just hanging out. They have a natural chemistry that feels hampered by over-scripting them. Maybe the format works better in the web-series of the same name. As a film, it’s a dire failure.

www.ktowncowboys.com

Author rating: 2/10