Without a doubt, Melo Movie appears to be this year’s Queen of Tears or Lovely Runner. From cliche love stories filled with dramatic twists to constant irritation invoked by the push and pull these fluttering love stories provide, the drama is captivating and definitely a must-see.
Warning: Notes of death, mental health, and spoilers ahead!
Featuring the irresistible chemistry between leads Choi Woo Shik and Park Bo Young. The melodramatic Netflix series revolves around Ko Gyeom, a movie addict turned film critic and Kim Mu Bee, a film director who ironically once despised movies and her similar name due to her deceased father’s work addiction. The series also highlights side characters like Hong Si Jun, a struggling composer and love fool for Son Ju Ah, his high school lover and ex-girlfriend who returns as a screenplay writer after disappearing for some time.
Choi Woo Shik wonderfully displays his versatility within roles as ‘Melo Movie’ truly brings out a charming and quirky side of him that befits his puppy-like appearance. The characters and cast are well-suited and the storyline highlights a lot of the stars’ acting abilities. Ko Gyeom seems shy at first but is a jolly people person, happy-go-lucky, and has a funny way of flirting with Kim Mu Bee. Choi Woo Shik’s natural smile and soft features perfectly complement his character’s innocent yet goofy behavior.
Park Bo Young was such a pleasure to see on screen again. Although her character is a bit of a troublemaker (especially highlighted in her childhood) her rascal-like energy as Do Bong Soon just seems more fitting than Kim Mu Bee’s evasive and introvert-like behaviors. Compared to the beginning, Kim Mu Bee’s character becomes more fleshed out as the episodes pan out. The back and forth between Ko Gyeom’s and Mu Bee’s perspectives makes the drama feel complete and viewers can take in the mindset and troubles of the leads effortlessly.
The pacing of the drama is quicker than expected at first but it doesn’t take away from the storyline. Complaints? Barely any but Kim Mu Bee’s love-struck character could’ve shown more resistance to Ko Gyeom’s advances. The push and pull of the leads can be annoying because some misunderstandings seem easily avoidable. However, Mu Bee’s outlandish first kiss and taking the lead made her more fun and Ko Gyeom’s disappearance more devastating. The plot doesn’t drag on and it ebbs and flows between chaos and comfort. It is the epitome of melo-romance (mostly fictional love plot, disasters, and center-of-the-universe situations) and some viewers will be pleased by the constant stress of wondering what will happen next as the tension escalates. While there are some plots that seem hard to grasp, such as why Ko Gyeom won’t flat out explain why he was missing for five years and ghosted Mu Bee in an appeal to reconcile and rekindle long but not forgotten feelings, the cliches make the drama attractive in its own right. Remember, it is a melodramatic masterpiece!
Melo Movie isn’t necessarily an untold story like any other but the premise of the drama’s infatuation for movies and emphasis on the core of melodrama makes viewers eager to see these cliches portrayed in refreshing and satirical scenes. Director Oh Chung Hwan’s emotional connection with movies seems so genuine and writer Lee Na Eun’s sympathetic script unearths the characters’ “dark secrets” which people can realistically relate to, The ending is well written because it isn’t about the characters reaching closure in a romantic way but actually within themselves through death and acceptance. Ko Gyeom’s intense fear of separation from his brother evokes a life with limitations. Ko Gyeom’s brother Ko Jun (Kim Jae Wook) asks “Are you really living life for yourself? When we watched movies together we used to talk about so much but now… it feels like you are doing everything to not live your life happily.” Jun feels evident regret for his brother’s constant devotion to caring for him after the accident that paralyzed him and Jun’s death ultimately leaves Ko Gyeom feeling empty and stuck in the inevitable truth that he couldn’t keep his brother from leaving him no matter what.
Mu Bee faces a similar hindrance through her father’s relationship. His obsession with movies (to the point he named her Mu Bee) made her feel she was second place. In the final episodes she tearily states “I just wanted to be loved.” She searches for validation outside of herself and her battered relationships with her parents left her feeling incapable of love. Both Mu Bee and Ko Gyeom battle with their inner “secrets” and fear of being alone in their own way but ultimately come together and the love they gradually build helps them overcome their inner turmoil first. They loved themselves more in order to love each other better. From a mental health perspective, it is a drama with a more modern plot that encourages introspective growth rather than outer acceptance and shallow validity through unachievable expectations in love.
Overall, Melo Movie is a story that can leave viewers feeling a variety of emotions. An enjoyable ride that isn’t pushing out over exaggerated scenes and production to secure views – it is a genuine love story that paints life in a prettier color. Perfect for fans of cozy love stories, classic K-Dramas, and soft-hearted puppy-like male leads. (8.5/10)
>> ‘Melo Movie’ Star Lee Jun Young Reveals His Real-Life Dating Style
