Comedy 'Pilot' aims to deliver genuine, effortless laughs

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- Actor Jo Jung-suk is no stranger to gender-bending roles, having starred in the long-running local adaptation of the American rock musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."

In his latest film "Pilot," the actor once again takes on a character who assumes a different gender identity. He portrays former star pilot Han Jung-woo who adopts his sister's identity in a desperate attempt to salvage his faltering career.

"I really wrestled with how to bring this character to life and spent a lot time mulling over all the little details," Jo said at a press event in Seoul on Wednesday to promote the movie.

"When I first read the script, it reminded me of 'Mrs. Doubtfire' which I loved so much when I was young. I used the film as a reference," he said, referring to the 1993 American comedy starring Robin Williams.

"I think the director's perspective on this film and the balance of comedy matched well with mine. When you watch the movie, it doesn't feel like we're caricaturing or forcing laughs. It's genuine comedy -- natural and unforced," he said.

view larger image

In the film, Jung-woo loses his job overnight and resorts to using his sister's identity to work as a pilot for an airline again. Once hired, he becomes an instant hero for a successful emergency landing. However, things spiral out of control following his -- or rather her -- newfound fame.

The actor said all the staff worked very hard to transform him into Jung-mi through a three-step process involving wardrobe, cosmetics and hairpiece application. He also lost about 7 kilograms to create his character's look.

The movie marks the actor's return to the big screen after five years. His last movie, the 2019 action-comedy "Exit," attracted more than 9.4 million moviegoers.

view larger image

"Pilot" is the Korean adaptation of the 2012 Swedish comedy movie "Cockpit." Alongside Jo, Han Sun-hwa of TVING's romantic comedy "Work Later, Drink Now" plays the role of Jung-mi, Jung-woo's sister and a beauty YouTuber.

"His acting was just mind-blowing," she said. "After our first scene together, I had a bit of a wake-up call. It made me think about how I could bring more to the table and make our scenes even better," she said.

Director Kim Han-kyul, known for the romantic comedy "Crazy Romance" (2019), said she tried to avoid "forced comedy" and to seamlessly integrate the characters into the story.

"I think we've all had our share of good times and tough spots. As people follow Jung-woo's story, I hope they will find parts of it that resonate with their own experiences," she said.

"Pilot" is set for release on July 31.

view larger image

[email protected]
(END)