Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP (2020)

the mystery part was completely predictable, but it's nice to see simple korean movies suitable for the whole family~ also, I don't like "in your face" comedies, and I kinda wish they went a little more hardcore with the story but it was overall heartwarming and a light simple watch~


Lee Sung Min and Kim Seo Hyung should reunite with another movie/drama, maybe even something with romance ;p
I might even watch this again with the kids in my family, it'd be a nice easy movie they wouldn't hate xD
I was surprised that I recognized all of the voice actors, I'm getting really good at voice recognition~

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I've been a fan of Dr. Doolittle (the original musical from the 5o's or 60's) since I was a little girl. It took me a minute to warm up to the Eddie Murphy version. I have to say I enjoyed this Dolittlesque Korean version. NIS Agent, Joo Tae Joo (played by Lee Sung Min), hates animals. It's revealed he has a psychological scar and just can not stand being around them. He awakes after having hit his head with the ability to talk to animals. Unfortunately for Joo, the only witnesses to the kidnapping of the envoy he was protecting are animals. His main witness is a military dog named Ali (voiced by Shin Ha Kyun) who has PTSD.

This movie is silly. I didn't find myself laughing (or booing), but I did smile and chuckle. It's entertaining. Any film where a man talks to animals will be compared to Dr. Doolittle, especially if the animals talk back and, boy, do they! The animals that know something won't give up the info for free. They've learned too well from humans. The production was done well. The CG fits right in. The writer/director did a good job putting a new spin on an old story.

The main cast is mostly voices. Each animal had a distinct personality and the actors did great jobs bringing those to light in the few minutes that most had to do so. Shin was perfect job as Ali. Initially, I was hoping that Lee Sun Kyun would be Ali, but his voice was perfect for the conniving black goat. You know what, I just realized I was mistaken. I did laugh. Not at anything done or said in the movie, but just at hearing Lee Soon Jae's big distinctive voice come out of a tiny hamster begging for help. You hear his voice before seeing the animal. I hadn't checked the entire cast so I wasn't expecting it when they showed the hamster. When he said about being on his wheel for 3 hours and having heart problems, I cracked up. I also giggled when I heard Joon Park's voice as the bald eagle. Lee Sung Min did a good job leading the human portion of the cast. I'm sure very often he wasn't acting with anyone, but you wouldn't know it. Bae Jung Nam played bungling agent Man Shik who has a knack for showing up in the right place at the right time and being of zero help.

The music was good and fitting. There's one song especially that you assume is being played due to the situation until you see the singer. I'd only watch the entire movie again with my 11 year old niece if she were interested, but I'd rewatch some of the animal guest scenes at anytime. Aside from the hamster, goat, and eagle, there's the gorilla and tiger that are standouts. This is definitely a family movie. I think children 8 and up would be fine.

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