The Roundup: Punishment 2024
“The Roundup: Punishment” marks the third installment in a series of Korean cop thrillers featuring a massive boxer known as the “monster cop.” However, these films don’t quite deliver the excitement that title implies. Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee, portrays Seok-do, the only consistently memorable character in this episodic action series that kicked off in 2017 with the successful “The Outlaws.” Throughout the previous three films, Seok-do has been seen sending villains flying and breaking through any barriers in his path. After all, what else would you expect from someone who resembles Benjamin Grimm’s distant relative?
In 2017, Lee wasn’t as well-known, particularly outside of Asia, which explains the erratic tone of the first two sequels that fluctuated between overly broad police humor and standard crime drama. Each new entry in “The Roundup” series has paradoxically leaned more on Lee’s star power while showcasing less of his talents. In “The Roundup: Punishment,” which revolves around an online casino and a series of gruesome murders, Lee still takes down criminals, but unfortunately, he appears in too few scenes and misses the chance to highlight his skill in physical comedy.
Seok-do is part of a team of largely unremarkable police officers. They follow the law, get frustrated by violent criminals, and always manage to catch their targets. While they may not be as iconic as M Squad or the Sweeney, they do have a formidable cop on their side, which can sometimes be enough. When Lee isn’t featured, the focus of these films shifts to the villains—desperate criminals, often Korean, who struggle to find their place in the world.
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| The Roundup: Punishment 2024 |
The film's dark antagonist is Baek Chang-ki (Kim Mu-yeol), a cold former mercenary who operates an online casino in the Philippines. Baek soon clashes with his business partners, particularly the sneaky IT genius Chang Dong-cheol (Lee Dong-hwi). In a brutal act, Baek kills one of his captive employees, setting him on a collision course with Seok-do, who has made a vow to the victim’s mother (who passes away shortly after)—he will ensure that justice is served to those responsible.
There are ways to enhance a stock plot without straying too far from action or chase sequences, which often come across as polished yet forgettable. However, the creators of “The Roundup: Punishment” seem uninterested in making their latest procedural feel personal. Without giving anything away, the film fails to establish a strong emotional bond between Seok-do and the individuals he claims to be fighting for. Additionally, scenes featuring Chang as an arrogant character lack engaging dialogue, making it hard to feel any desire to root against him. At least Baek remains consistent in his portrayal; he glares, stabs, and kills without over-promising.
“The Roundup: Punishment” struggles the most during comedic moments that don’t involve Don Lee. He occasionally serves as a comic foil to Jang Yi-soo (Park Ji-hwan), a petty criminal who is duped into assisting the police with a toy FDA badge, believing he’s been given authority. Park performs well in his limited role, but his humor doesn’t quite match the charm of his presence. With all due respect to Park, why would anyone want to watch him steal the spotlight when Don Lee is available?
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| The Roundup: Punishment 2024 |
The creators of “The Roundup: Punishment” clearly recognize Lee’s charm. He delivers a perfect comedic punchline at the end of a rather complex chase sequence. The police pursue Choi Yu-Seong (Bae Jae-won), one of Baek’s associates, who appears to escape until Seok-do cleverly lures Choi into the back of a mini-van. Seok-do’s line—“Has to be for a reason, right?”—isn't particularly impressive, but Lee’s performance elevates this mediocre joke to a level reminiscent of Bugs Bunny.
Sadly, the action sequences in “The Roundup: Punishment” miss the lively energy that originally highlighted Lee’s talent. While there’s an increase in boxing choreography, there are fewer moments where Seok-do hilariously smashes through solid obstacles and glass jaws. The final showdown with Baek has its highlights, but more often than not, it feels lacking and overly serious.
It's easy to understand why "The Roundup: Punishment" attracts attention, thanks to its polished production and familiar storytelling elements that keep the series moving forward. However, Lee deserves more engaging dialogue—like when he says, “I made someone a promise. To punish you”—and funnier jokes as well. He even consumes throwaway comedic moments, such as when Seok-do struggles to repeat an inspiring speech to his team right after the Commissioner has just delivered it to him. Watching the big guy push through despite his forgetfulness is the main reason to feel both excited and slightly let down by yet another installment of "The Roundup." One day, Lee will land the comedic lead role he truly deserves; while he's a solid action star, he shines even brighter as a comedian.
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