I give it a 7 out of 10

The honest feeling about the movie 'Can't Help It' is that the reactions can be extremely divided depending on who watches it.

Director Park Chan-wook's sharp black comedy direction is alive, but the problem is whether the protagonist's 'inevitable situation' and the motivation for their actions are sufficiently convincing to the audience. While watching the movie, I felt that I somewhat understood the setup, but it didn't lead to empathy, and so every time I saw the brilliant performances, I felt like I was watching an actor dressed inappropriately, which only brought a bitter smile.

It even seemed to me that, unlike Park Chan-wook's previous works, it was intentionally made to be uninteresting rather than immersing in the characters' narratives. Conversely, those who viewed the film positively appreciate the director's intention to uncomfortably reveal the reality of the middle class being pushed out amid automation and structural changes, and the irony of it.

It is said that rather than a neatly organized story, it attempted to show the frustrations of the current era through deliberately misaligned direction. From the beginning, this film chose to pose questions rather than offer kindness, and that choice remains a charm for some and a disappointment for others.

It brings provocative story materials, but somehow the story does not flow smoothly. Instead, the performances of the actors and the director's direction carry that lacking part to the end. The themes of psychopathy and murder are familiar, but rather than a clear story that anyone can understand, it focuses more on black comedy, symbolism, and the dark sides of human nature.

So after watching, the feeling is stronger that it "lingers strangely" rather than saying, "Wow, that was really fun."

If you ask whether it was well made, I would say it's not bad, but it is definitely not a movie I could easily recommend to those around me.

The overseas response was decent at the press screening of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, and the scores from international critics and Italian critics were also high. The scores on overseas rating sites are also relatively high, but... for some reason, it did not win any awards. I think this is evidence that while the film's quality is somewhat recognized, it is not a film that satisfies everyone's tastes.

Interestingly, this work is also evaluated as one of the more popular films among Park Chan-wook's movies.

Among journalists, it was said to be the easiest film to watch since Joint Security Area (JSA), and the director also stated that he considered box office success to some extent while making it. In reality, the box office results are just mediocre. While it avoided results that would lose production costs, I feel a significant sense of disappointment compared to expectations.

While watching the movie, the story does not go in one direction but makes you think intermittently. The characters' emotions and choices are shown through scenes or atmosphere rather than being directly explained. Therefore, critics rate it highly, but among the audience who went to watch it casually, there are reactions like, "I don't understand why it had to go that far."

There are certainly well-received scenes. The scene where characters have overlapping conversations in a soundless space is both funny and bizarre. The music and subtitles blend well, giving a sense that Park Chan-wook's unique black comedy is alive. Just looking at such scenes, it definitely makes you think he is a director who directs well.

Conversely, the most criticized part is the protagonist's choice. Many opinions suggest that the process of an ordinary person resorting to murder due to unemployment and stress lacks persuasion. It is considered too sudden and unrealistic. However, on the other hand, some argue that the emotions exploding in a situation where long-accumulated anger and pride have collapsed are not entirely unreasonable.

In my view, Lee Byung-hun's inability to commit murder skillfully in the film and his constant wavering actually makes him appear more human.

In conclusion, if you only consider the fun of this movie, you might find it dull. The ending is also unsatisfying, which makes it even more disappointing. Still, thanks to the actors' performances and the director's direction, it was a decent box office success, and while it didn't incur losses, there is a strong sense of regret that it could have been better.

However, I believe that the fact that thoughts linger quietly after watching the entire film is certainly a hallmark of a Park Chan-wook work.