Kang Ha-neul and Cha Eun-woo’s new comedy "The First Ride" is headed to theaters across key Asian territories, including Vietnam, Thailand and Hong Kong.
According to distributor Showbox, the rollout begins Nov. 7 in Mongolia and Indonesia, followed by Nov. 13 in Macao, Singapore and Hong Kong; Nov. 14 in Taiwan; Nov. 20 in Thailand; and Nov. 21 in Vietnam. Releases in Japan, New Zealand and Australia are also in the works.
Director Nam Dae-joong has a strong track record in Vietnam. His earlier feature The Last Ride was remade locally, and "Love Reset" became the top-grossing Korean romantic comedy ever released in the market. Anticipation is high for his follow-up. Vietnam distributor Mockingbird Pictures called "The First Ride" “a delightfully offbeat journey with friends” that delivers “universal laughs and a memorable portrait of friendship,” hinting at another K-comedy wave after "Love Reset."
Taiwan’s Cai Chang said, “With Nam Dae-joong’s deft comic touch on "Love Reset" and a cast already popular in Taiwan, we expect strong box office results.” Purple Plan, handling Thailand and Singapore, added, “We were won over by its heartfelt storytelling, lovable ensemble and the vivid sense of adventure. It’s packed with laughs, emotion and unforgettable moments.”
Japan’s The Klockworx called the film “the feel-good, vitamin-bright comedy we’ve been waiting for,” while Hong Kong’s Megaton Entertainment noted, “Everyone has that freewheeling, sometimes reckless chapter in their 20s. This fresh lineup promises chemistry we haven’t seen before.”
"The First Ride" follows five ride-or-die friends on their first trip abroad: the relentless Tae-jung (Kang Ha-neul), sunny Do-jin (Kim Young-kwang), heartthrob Yeon-min (Cha Eun-woo), perpetually drowsy Geum-bok (Kang Young-seok) and sweetheart Ok-sim (Han Sun-hwa). The film opened domestically on Oct. 29 and has drawn 590,000 admissions to date.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)