'Handsome Guys (핸섬가이즈)' has brought a refreshing wave of laughter to theaters this summer. Released on the 26th of last month, the movie is gaining traction through word of mouth, leading to a significant rise in its box office performance.

Currently, theaters are dominated by Pixar's animation 'Inside Out 2,' which has maintained the top spot since its release. Despite competing against new releases like 'A Quiet Place: First Day' and 'Hijack 1971 (하이재킹),' 'Handsome Guys' started at fourth place but quickly climbed to third place on June 24th, just two days after its release, and then to second place by June 30th. Notably, the seat occupancy rate has shown a remarkable increase, from 9.8% on June 27th to 12.5% on June 28th, 30.2% on June 29th, and 35.1% on June 30th.

'Handsome Guys' follows the story of self-proclaimed tough guy 'Jaepil' (played by Lee Sung-min 이성민) and sexy guy 'Sanggu' (played by Lee Hee-jun 이희준) who save a college student, 'Mina' (played by Gong Seung-yeon 공승연), from drowning, only to be mistaken for kidnappers. The plot unfolds with bizarre and chilling incidents involving a group of five college students and two police officers.

◆ 'Handsome Guys': A Unique Blend of Comedy, Horror, Romance, and Occult

'Handsome Guys' is the directorial debut of Nam Dong-hyeop, who reimagined the original Canadian film 'Tucker & Dale vs. Evil.' Nam kept the original flow while adding his own distinctive style through unique adaptations. The film is a robust mix of comedy, horror, romance, and occult elements. While the added horror brings a touch of gore that might be polarizing, the comedic foundation sustains continuous laughter throughout the movie. Audiences will find it hard to believe this is Nam's first directorial work due to its experienced execution.

◆ Lee Sung-min and Lee Hee-jun: A Hilarious Duo of Looks and Slapstick

The duo of Lee Sung-min and Lee Hee-jun in 'Handsome Guys' evokes the classic comedy pairing of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels from Hollywood's 'Dumb and Dumber.' Known as the 'fool' duo, their unique looks and resulting misunderstandings lead to unintended mishaps wherever they go. True to the movie's title, the actors put significant effort into their appearances.

Lee Sung-min, known for his serious roles in films like '12.12: The Day (서울의 봄),' 'The Devil's Deal (대외비),' 'The Man Standing Next (남산의 부장들),' and the drama 'Reborn Rich (재벌집 막내아들),' underwent a complete transformation for 'Handsome Guys.' With tanned skin, a protruding white belly, and a rough demeanor, he created a never-before-seen character. Lee Hee-jun also expressed his struggle to 'uglify' himself, even creating cupping marks to compete with Lee Sung-min's drastic change. Their seasoned acting, honed over 37 years for Lee Sung-min and 17 years for Lee Hee-jun, adds depth to their comedic portrayals.

Gong Seung-yeon (playing Mina) lost 8kg and delivered an outstanding performance with rough language, while Park Ji-hwan (Chief Choi), who recently shone in 'The Roundup: Punishment (범죄도시4),' and Lee Kyu-hyung (Officer Nam) brought unique humor with their dedicated acting and expressions. Supporting actor Woo Hyun's performance in scenes dubbed 'belly-button poppers' by the cast cannot be overlooked.

◆ The Power of Word of Mouth for 'Handsome Guys'

The combination of these elements has fueled 'Handsome Guys' popularity through word of mouth. Lee Sung-min described it as a "movie you can laugh at without thinking," and Gong Seung-yeon praised it as "a film with many unexpected twists, combining small fun, various visuals, and unique elements like a bibimbap."

'Handsome Guys' has already been pre-sold to North America, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, India, Mongolia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand. It has also been officially invited to compete at the 57th Sitges Film Festival. The reason behind the success of this unconventional comedy can be witnessed in theaters nationwide.