The First Ride

Tae-jeong, Do-jin, Yeon-min, and Geum-bok were four friends who once planned an epic overseas trip before adulthood scattered their plans. Years later, now older and carrying different responsibilities, they finally set off together, expecting a relaxed break. What they get is a sequence of comic mishaps, unplanned detours, and moments that bring old tensions and quiet regrets back to the surface. As their carefully arranged plans unravel, the trip becomes less about sightseeing and more about how they relate to each other after time and change. The tone shifts between lighthearted set pieces and honest conversations, without giving away the surprises that reshape their relationships.

Directed by Nam Dae-joong and released in 2025, the film stars Kang Ha-neul, Kim Young-kwang, Cha Eun-woo, Kang Young-suk, and Han Seon-hwa. It's an original screenplay rather than an adaptation, and the production leaned on its ensemble cast to sell the mix of comedy and drama.

The movie saw modest box office returns, finding a stronger audience in select urban theaters and among fans of the cast rather than broad mainstream crowds. It wasn't positioned as a blockbuster but maintained steady enough attendance to justify its theatrical window.

Critical response was mixed-to-positive, reflected in a modest vote average around 6.6 out of 10 from early viewers. Reviewers tended to praise the leads' chemistry and the film's balance of humor with quieter emotional beats, while some noted uneven pacing when shifting between farce and frank scenes about aging and friendship.

On social media the film prompted conversation mainly among fans of the principal actors, who appreciated familiar faces in a more grounded, adult story. Certain scenes and comic moments have been shared online, and the cast pairing led to renewed interest in reunion-style stories about long-term friendships and how time changes expectations.