2.5/5 stars A deadly gas attack leaves thousands stranded in skyscrapers across Seoul in Exit , the debut feature by writer-director Lee Sang-geun. The action comedy weaves a hugely convoluted scenario, and audiences will have to decide very early on whether to willingly disregard logic and just go with it, or strap in for an exasperating couple of hours. The disaster inspires unemployed thirty-something Yong-nam (Cho Jung-seok, Hit-and-Run Squad ) to finally prove his mettle and save the day when his entire family, assembled for his mother’s 70th birthday, is trapped in a downtown banquet hall. As the corrosive cloud seeps into the building, adept mountain climbers Yong-nam and Eui-ju (former Girls’ Generation idol Yoona, Confidential Assignment ), the restaurant’s duty manager, must scale the outside and help the survivors onto the roof, and safety. Yong-nam’s tragic backstory, the motivations behind the attack itself, and the media’s curious response to it, are just a few of the key narrative footholds that director Lee allows to fall by the wayside. The premise stems from a legitimate social concern, that qualified graduates across Korea are failing to secure gainful employment, which is putting a financial and emotional strain on their families. Yong-nam’s desperation to succeed in life is typified by the giant corporate buildings that tower over the city. Survival for the characters in Exit means, in a very literal sense, breaking into one of these buildings and clawing their way to the top. The climbing sequences themselves are incredibly well executed, creating palpable tension as Yong-nam, later joined by Eui-ju, puts his life on the line for the sake of those who have supported him. Unfortunately, Lee insists on propelling his film not with nail-biting action, but broad physical comedy. While a well-timed laugh at the right moment can bring welcome relief following a death-defying stunt, Lee’s determination to inject humour into every situation repeatedly undermines any genuine sense of peril. Yong-nam and Eui-ju’s burgeoning romance fares much better. Casual acquaintances from college, Eui-ju had rebuffed Yong-nam’s romantic advances years earlier, adding a playful awkwardness to their new alliance. But both soon recognise that they represent a welcome new opportunity for one another, especially for Yong-nam to escape his insufferable family. He might even be better off leaving them to be consumed by the gas. Ultimately, Exit ’s commitment to cheap laughs and family values obscures its more exhilarating elements. Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook