Mikes Film Talk

This week in “Dr. Ken”  Randall Park is the guest star who runs the Korean Men’s Club of the title.  In a similar theme to Park’s show, it seems that Ken needs to find a hobby since he is driving Allison up the wall by hijacking her activities (even her showers). However before the episode is over Ken gets “pwned” by Allison.

When Ken crashes his wife’s  book club, one of the  members comes up with an idea of something that Ken can do. Allison’s reaction is priceless:

Allison: “Is it happening  now? Can it be now?”

It turns out that the member’s husband Gary (Park) runs a men’s club that does worthwhile activities for the community. Ken initially turns the idea down flat, opting to go a do a “Castle” marathon.

Pat’s divorce comes final and he is now living in his office. Julie, Clark and Damona all come in to commiserate and they are joined by Ken who offers sounds of sympathy and then goes into his “hobby” issue.

Molly gets “dork”  lessons from Dave so she can attract the “really cute nerdy guy” she has a crush on. In seconds Dave learns this is going to be an uphill battle:

“I’d better put on some coffee.”

The youngest Park is now training his “nerd” Padawan (who will ultimately  surpass her “master”).

Ken learns that the Men’s club is a front run by Gary  where the men all pretend to do civic services for the community but in reality listen eternally to Snoop Dogg’s  G Thang, drink and watch sports on a flat screen telly.

Dr. Ken tells his wife of all the worthwhile things that he is doing at the club and Allison is very proud of the “work” that Ken is doing in the club.

Pat learns of a vacancy in Clark’s apartment building, thanks to Julie, and  it appears that the “Pat boning Damona a bunch of times” is now officially finished. Clark is furious that “Patrice” could  be moving into his building.

Molly rushes home to get more training from nerd Jedi Dave and in the process Ken’s real activities  at the club are  via his photo stream. Allison is not impressed and she ambushes Ken when he gets home with the news that she has invited a reporter from the Korean News to cover the club’s good work.

Ken reports the bad news to the men at the club and the club members  are horrified that they will be found out. Gary is not happy and Ken apologizes:

“I’m sorry, you guys. I didn’t realize my wife would be proud of me. The thought never entered my mind.”

He saves the day after coming up with the idea to paint the graffiti covered (closed) soup kitchen in the neighborhood. The men jump at the plan which results in them all being cited for vandalism. (The graffiti was commissioned by the city.) In keeping with the Men’s Club’s  proclivity for doing nothing, all the men opt for a fine rather than community service.

Cop: “Sorry, guys, I got to cite you for defacing public property.”

Gary: “Really? What are we looking at?”

Cop: “It’s going to either be three hours of community service or a $5,000 fine.”

Gary: “We’ll take the fine.”

Ken comes home to find that Allison lied about the reporter as payback for his lying to her about the club.

Molly is overjoyed at the result of Dave’s nerd training; she has caught “her man:”

“Dave, you squeezable genius!”

She then reveals to Dave that  training is over. Now that she has captured her prey, she  will change him to what she wants. Molly is now the Jedi and Dave the reluctant and annoyed  Padawan.

Pat moves into Julie’s apartment building. Clark has turned the tables on his co-worker and gotten the homeless administrator to move next door to his colleague.

This episode was brilliant in many respects. The Molly (Krista Marie Yu) and Dave (Albert Tsai) storyline was excellent, as was the “homeless Pat” one.  Randall Park’s character was, despite his clever ruse (the Men’s Club)  a bit of a stick in the mud and an excellent comedic off-set to  Ken.

Standout Moments:

The whole Korean Men’s Club interaction after Ken’s reveal about the reporter, especially the WNBA gag:

Han: “Bringing a WNBA team to Koreatown.”

Gary: “Hwan, we already voted. We’re not not doing that.”

Dave and Molly…all of their training and the resultant swapping of roles.

Pat’s nickname and Damona’s reaction to it; “Paste because I stick to my man so well…”

Clark and Julie’s apartment wars.

All the men agreeing to the fine rather than do extra work.

Allison (Suzy Nakamura)’s plaintive reveal about wishing to be on Mars but alone and  not with Matt Damon:

“It’d be so quiet.” Allison also gets the award for the “can it be now” bit, hysterically funny.

Both Ken, Dave and Julie being pwned by Allison, Molly and Clark respectively.

Ken’s high-pitched “me-me” rendition of G Thang in the kitchen.

Noteworthy:

When Ken enters the club, the men are all speaking in Korean and for a split second the scene is evocative of every Korean film where the protagonists are planning something big. A splendid touch that is a great play on cinematic stereotypes. Especially when Ken tries to leave and Gary says menacingly, “You’re not going anywhere.”

Kudos:

To Krista Marie Yu and Albert Tsai for working the entire “nerd” training scenario like a well oiled comedic machine.

Final Thoughts:

This was a highly anticipated episode;  Randall Park is a personal favorite along with Ken Jeong,  and the pairing of the two was brilliant.  The episode also worked on another level. The underlying theme was relationships and lying. Even Molly and Dave played this scenario out:

Dave: “You were just using me to trap this poor sap into thinking you’re something you’re not?”

Molly: “I’m sorry. I thought that was clear. That’s the way relationships work, Dave. You pretend you’re someone you’re not until they fall for you, and then it’s too late.”

This family oriented show continues to provide the best time one can have on a Friday night whilst watching telly.  Good laughs and a cast that all mesh brilliantly.  May the network demigods grant this brilliant show more seasons.

“Dr. Ken” airs Fridays on ABC.