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"I'm a public hand grenade"
Honest Candidate gave Ra Mi Ran a chance to shine as a lying politician suddenly cursed with the inability to tell a lie during the final days of a campaign.
Ju Sang Suk appears to be an honest politician who honors her dead philanthropic grandmother at every turn. All is not as it seems in her familial paradise. Ju is intwined with corrupt officials who are all making a killing from her time in office. After a special prayer is offered up for her, Ju finds the truth spilling from her lips in every situation she is in, threatening not only her political career but also her freedom.
Honest Candidate was based on a Brazilian film which was itself adapted from the 1997 film Liar, Liar starring Jim Carrey. Instead of a lawyer, HC revolved around the occupation with the one of the highest percentages of liars---politicians. Ra Mi Ran gave a charming and comedic performance as Ju Sang Suk’s truths at first entertain the voters, coming across as a breath of fresh air. As Ju’s skeletons or lack of a skeleton were revealed, Ju found herself painted into a corner. Ra dialed up the emotional nuance as the curse forced Ju to face how far she’d fallen and whether or not she could salvage her career. Kim Mu Yeol made for a loyal Man Friday who believed in Ju’s abilities and career even more than she did. And always reliable halmeoni Na Moon Hee could once again be counted on to not phone her performance in. Ok Hee was the heart of a story filled with money hungry, unethical people. She also had a savage “bird.” It was disappointing that Ju’s husband and son weren’t particularly likeable or invested in her returning to her earlier ethical ways.
Honest Candidate was entertaining and had many funny moments but didn’t draw me in as much as I would have liked it to. Perhaps it was too close to Liar, Liar’s gimmick or maybe it was because Ju’s actions in the earlier part of the film were blatantly corrupt and selfish. I do love a redemption story and while I’m not sure she earned it, I will nearly always root for a person to acknowledge their mistakes and work to overcome them. One thing for sure, regardless of who she is praying to, a loving grandmother’s prayer is a force to be reckoned with---don’t make yours mad!
10 September 2025
Ju Sang Suk appears to be an honest politician who honors her dead philanthropic grandmother at every turn. All is not as it seems in her familial paradise. Ju is intwined with corrupt officials who are all making a killing from her time in office. After a special prayer is offered up for her, Ju finds the truth spilling from her lips in every situation she is in, threatening not only her political career but also her freedom.
Honest Candidate was based on a Brazilian film which was itself adapted from the 1997 film Liar, Liar starring Jim Carrey. Instead of a lawyer, HC revolved around the occupation with the one of the highest percentages of liars---politicians. Ra Mi Ran gave a charming and comedic performance as Ju Sang Suk’s truths at first entertain the voters, coming across as a breath of fresh air. As Ju’s skeletons or lack of a skeleton were revealed, Ju found herself painted into a corner. Ra dialed up the emotional nuance as the curse forced Ju to face how far she’d fallen and whether or not she could salvage her career. Kim Mu Yeol made for a loyal Man Friday who believed in Ju’s abilities and career even more than she did. And always reliable halmeoni Na Moon Hee could once again be counted on to not phone her performance in. Ok Hee was the heart of a story filled with money hungry, unethical people. She also had a savage “bird.” It was disappointing that Ju’s husband and son weren’t particularly likeable or invested in her returning to her earlier ethical ways.
Honest Candidate was entertaining and had many funny moments but didn’t draw me in as much as I would have liked it to. Perhaps it was too close to Liar, Liar’s gimmick or maybe it was because Ju’s actions in the earlier part of the film were blatantly corrupt and selfish. I do love a redemption story and while I’m not sure she earned it, I will nearly always root for a person to acknowledge their mistakes and work to overcome them. One thing for sure, regardless of who she is praying to, a loving grandmother’s prayer is a force to be reckoned with---don’t make yours mad!
10 September 2025
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