Good News (Netflix) Review: Savvy Satire

Though much of Good News is fictional, the film flips the script, retelling a true-life story with dashes of action, humor, and thrills.

As for the real story, the event took place in 1970, when Japan Airlines’ Flight 351 was hijacked by the Red Army Faction, who were an extremist anti-government group. In the movie, the hijackers are trying to make their way to Pyongyang, North Korea from Tokyo International Airport, but their plan goes terribly wrong when the pilots inform them that they don’t have enough fuel to make it to their final destination. This results in the plane having to land and refuel in Fukuoka, Japan, where they are convinced to let 23 of the 129 passengers/crew members leave the plane. But the terror doesn’t stop there, as the plane takes off once again. Thankfully, there were no casualties in the real life event, and all aboard were finally let free, though it doesn’t make the facts surrounding that day any less alarming.

It’s a bold move to make Good News a dark action comedy, given that it’s based on such a horrifying event; yet writing duo Byun Sung-hyun and Lee Jin-seong make it work. This is due to the fact that the incompetence of the hijackers is a major focus in the film, which makes for a laugh-out-loud comedy as their lack of planning and common sense starts to unfold. One of the funniest moments is when the hijackers are tricked into believing that they’ve landed in North Korea, when they’re in fact in Seoul, South Korea. It’s even crazier when you learn as a viewer that this part of the story actually happened in real life.

Another aspect of the movie that elevates the comedy is witnessing various officials from different countries attempting to rectify the situation, with each having quite different ideas on which approach to take. No one is safe in this political satire, with the narrative poking fun at everyone in the most playful way, fully embracing stereotypes and using them for laughs.

Good News wouldn’t have been half as good without such a talented, well-matched cast, and the stellar acting on display is what makes the film such an enjoyable watch. Although Sol Kyung-gu plays a fictional man who is only referred to as Nobody, he’s one of the most entertaining parts of the story, portraying a rough-around-the-edges, mysterious type figure, who comes up with a plan that ultimately saves the day. Praise must also be given to Hong Kyung, who is cast as an air force Lieutenant named Seo Go-myung, working alongside Nobody to make said plan come to fruition.

The back-and-forth conversations between the pair bring extra life and energy to the script, with Nobody taking a more reckless strategy while Seo Go-myung has a more controlled, strategic outlook. The duo’s differing personalities and mindsets bring great balance to the story and make their time on screen together nerve-racking and thrilling in equal measure.

The film has plenty of comedic one liners and situational humor, yet the intense, serious moments are just as effective. Even if you find yourself Googling the true life Flight 351 story and discover some of the similarities in Good News, the fictional characters make the narrative all the more unpredictable, with plenty of surprises and familiar acting faces making an appearance along the way.

If I had one complaint it’s that Good News does outstay its welcome a little, with what feels like an overlong runtime with some repetitive sequences that could have been cut down. That said, the film more than makes up for it with razor sharp comedy and larger than life characters, all while showcasing thrilling action.

Good News (굿뉴스) is now available to stream globally on Netflix.