(4/2011) Movie Review: The Last Godfather

3 Stars

Review By James R. Holland  

The Last Godfather Is One Too Many Gangster Spoofs

It’s very rare to find a Korean film that disappoints this reviewer. I generally like both their television and movie productions—especially their historical dramas. This one, however, had few redeeming features. The main character, Younggu played by Hyung-rae Shim was cast as the mentally retarded Korean son of Godfather Don Carini played by Harvey Keitel. Most of the PG-13-Rated film makes fun of Younggu’s incredibly dumb actions. A major motion picture that makes run of a retard seems an odd topic for such a film. It seems in poor taste if nothing else. That style of Korean humor doesn’t play well in the Western World.

Younggu doesn’t seem like a young guy in this film. He appears to be the oldest member of the cast and looks much older than his supposed father Don Carini or his rival crime boss Don Bonfante, played in his usual comic style by Jon Polito.

The rest of the cast are mostly two-dimensional comic book-like characters. They do the best they can with the script and directing by Hyung-rae Shim but the most interesting thing about the film are the many classic automobiles included in the film. Car lovers will cringe when those beautiful antiques get shot full of holes during a blazing gunfight in a NYC street.

Jocelin Donahue plays Nancy Bonfante who naturally falls in love with the son of her father’s worst enemy. Never were there two less likely lovers than Nancy and Younggu. He seems old enough to be her great grandfather. His heart of gold and unbelievable luck aren’t enough to make their falling in love credible even in a comedy.

This unfortunately is one of the worst films released in America this season. It’s full of slapstick comedy ala the “Three Stooges” or “Laurel and Hardy” and the “Keystone Kops.” In those other movies they weren’t making fun of the mentally retarded. Some of those madcap stunts did amuse a couple of members of the audience, but most people seemed to leave the theater early. They were the smartest members of the movie audience.

James R. Holland is a film editor, producer, and author–most recently of Adventure Photographer (A Bit of Boston Books/ 2009).  He reviews movies exclusively for Basil & Spice.  Visit James R. Holland’s Writer’s Page.

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