Childhood buddies Tae-jung (Kang Haneul), Do-jin (Kim Youngkwang), Yeon-min (Cha Eunwoo), and Geum-bok (Kang Young-suk) have shared one dream for 24 years: going on a trip together. After years of putting it off, they finally embark on their long-awaited overseas adventure. This is the trip they had always planned during their high school days, originally hoping to attend a music festival in Thailand with a world-famous DJ. What was meant to be a simple, fun vacation quickly turns into total, glorious chaos, setting the stage for a hilariously unpredictable journey.
As the friends navigate the trip, the film cleverly blends humor with nostalgia, highlighting both the joys and bittersweet realities of lifelong friendships. Each character is at a different point in life, juggling careers, family, and personal priorities, which makes it challenging to maintain the same closeness they once had. The film hits home with its portrayal of the familiar yet often heartbreaking phrase “next time,” a promise that becomes increasingly hard to keep as time moves on.
In our opinion, the movie shines in its poignant and heartwarming moments. Tae-jung, in particular, is relatable as he struggles to balance work responsibilities and friendship, while Do-jin is the one who fears being left behind. Yeon-min provides plenty of charm and humor, stealing scenes with his undeniable charisma, especially in the classroom moments that had the cinema erupting in squeals, captivating the audience with his charming looks (We know he just entered the army but we already miss Cha Eunwoo!). Geum-bok mainly provides comic relief, though we wish the film had explored his backstory more, as we are curious about how he spent the years after high school.
On the other hand, Ok-sim (Han Seonhwa) felt somewhat unnecessary to the plot and did not leave much of an impression, although a surprising cameo in the second half of the movie will leave 2nd-generation K-pop fans watching gasping in shock at what her character did.
“The First Ride” succeeded in making us shed a few tears, it is overall funny and offers a warm, heartfelt story. The movie delivers a charming look at friendship and nostalgia, so whether you are in it for the laughs, the bonds between friends, or the very handsome Cha Eunwoo whom we all miss, this movie is worth a watch. Catch “The First Ride” now in cinemas.
KAvenyou would like to thank PurplePlanSG for the invite to the movie preview of “The First Ride”!
