The Story of Men of Plastic
Men of Plastic follows an unlikely partnership between two men with wildly different approaches to success in one of the world's most competitive industries. A bullish, meddlesome entrepreneur native to Apgujeong—Seoul's wealthy neighborhood—teams up with a talented but prickly plastic surgeon who's built his reputation on pure technical skill. Together, they're determined to build the biggest and best plastic surgery business in Seoul, a city where cosmetic procedures aren't just common—they're practically a cultural institution. The film captures their collision of personalities as they navigate the cutthroat world of Gangnam's medical aesthetics scene, where ambition, ego, and surgical precision collide in ways both comedic and genuinely tense.
Behind the Making of Men of Plastic
Directed by Im Jin-soon, Men of Plastic arrived on screens November 30, 2022, as a distinctly South Korean take on the buddy-comedy-crime formula. The film assembled a solid ensemble cast beyond its two leads: Oh Na-ra, Choi Byung-mo, Lim Hyung-jun, Na Kwang-hoon, and Kil Hae-yeon round out the supporting roles, each adding layers to the world of Seoul's cosmetic surgery underground. Don Lee, known for his charismatic presence in action and comedy roles alike, carries the entrepreneurial swagger of his character, while Jung Kyung-ho—a veteran of Korean television and film—brings a more reserved, technically precise energy to the surgeon role. At 112 minutes, the film takes its time establishing the dynamics between these characters before the stakes truly escalate. The production taps into a distinctly Korean sensibility about appearance, ambition, and the moral gray areas of the beauty industry, themes that resonate particularly in a society where cosmetic procedures have become normalized across all demographics.
What Makes Men of Plastic Stand Out
What's striking about Men of Plastic is how it doesn't just use plastic surgery as window dressing—it makes the industry itself a character. The film walks a tricky line between satire and genuine dramatic tension, never quite letting you settle into pure comedy. There's something almost absurdist about watching these two men build an empire around reshaping faces, and the script seems aware of that contradiction. The performances anchor everything; Don Lee's entrepreneur is all bluster and networking, but there's a vulnerability underneath—he's not just chasing money, he's chasing validation. Jung Kyung-ho's surgeon, meanwhile, won't admit he cares about anything beyond his craft, yet he's drawn deeper into the business world despite himself. I keep coming back to the fact that the film trusts its audience to find humor in the tension between these worldviews rather than spelling it out. The chemistry between the leads carries scenes that could've felt thin in less capable hands. It's not a perfect film—the IMDb rating of 5.5/10 suggests critics and audiences found it uneven—but there's real craft in how it examines ambition and identity in a city obsessed with transformation, both literal and professional.
Where to Stream Men of Plastic Online
Men of Plastic is currently available on Netflix, making it accessible to anyone with a subscription. If you're hunting for where to watch it, check the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page for real-time availability across platforms in your region. Streaming rights can shift, so Movie OTT keeps tabs on current availability to save you the hunt. The film's 112-minute runtime makes it a solid evening watch—not so long that you're committing to a trilogy, but substantial enough to feel like you've spent real time in this world. Netflix's global reach means this South Korean comedy-crime film is accessible far beyond Seoul, which is worth noting given how specifically tied it is to Gangnam's particular brand of competitive excess.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where can I watch Men of Plastic?
Men of Plastic is available on Netflix. Check the streaming availability widget on this page for current platform listings in your region, as rights can vary by location.
Q: Who directed Men of Plastic?
The film was directed by Im Jin-soon and released on November 30, 2022. It's a South Korean production that brings a distinctly local perspective to the comedy-crime genre.
Q: What's the runtime of Men of Plastic?
Men of Plastic runs 112 minutes, giving you just under two hours to experience the clash between the entrepreneur and the surgeon.
Q: Is Men of Plastic based on a true story?
The film is a fictional comedy-crime drama, though it's clearly inspired by the very real culture of cosmetic surgery in Seoul and Gangnam. It's satire rooted in genuine cultural observation rather than a specific true event.
Q: Who are the main actors in Men of Plastic?
Don Lee and Jung Kyung-ho lead the cast as the entrepreneur and surgeon, respectively, with Oh Na-ra, Choi Byung-mo, and others filling out the ensemble.
Final Thoughts on Men of Plastic
Men of Plastic won't be everyone's cup of tea—that 5.5 rating tells you it's divisive—but it's worth a watch if you're curious about how contemporary South Korean cinema tackles ambition, vanity, and the strange economics of appearance. The film's willingness to sit in uncomfortable comedic territory, refusing easy answers about who's right or wrong, is genuinely refreshing. If you're browsing Movie OTT for your next streaming pick and want something that'll make you think as much as it makes you laugh, this one's worth the two-hour investment.
