Melo Movie: Spoiler-Free Mini Review
Updated: Sep 26
Title: | Melo Movie (2025) |
Platform: | Netflix |
MDL & IMBD Rating: | |
Genre: | Contemporary Romantic Comedy |
Episode Count: | 10 |
Parental Guidance Rating: | TV-14: Language, much smoking, discussion of suicide. For more info: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35450649/parentalguide/ |
Starring: | Choi Woo Shik (Our Beloved Summer) Park Bo Young (Strong Girl Bong Soon) Lee Jun Young (May I Help you?) Jeon So Ne (As You Stood By) Kim Jae Uck (Filing For Love) Cha Woo Min (My Bias, My Boss) |
RBTS Rating:  | 5.9/10 Stars: Melo Movie is Our Beloved Summer 2.0 with less interesting characters and scant chemistry, with potential that fell to the wayside in pursuit of overdone tropes.  |
Cast From Left to Right: #ChoiWooShik, #ParkBoYoung, #LeeJunYoung, #JeonSoNee, #KimJaeUck
Synopsis:
Kim Mu Bi, an aspiring film director and assistant director, quietly works to follow in her father's footsteps in the film industry. Ko Gyeom, a passionate film critic, aims to watch every movie ever made and becomes intrigued by Mu Bi after meeting her on set. Meanwhile, Hong Si Jun, a self-proclaimed genius but unknown songwriter, still grapples with his past, including his ex-girlfriend, screenwriter Son Ju A. @MDL
Spoiler-Free Mini Review:
Melo Movie left me with many questions: Why is everyone smoking? Why is there a jaunty song about a bagel? Why is this literally Our Beloved Summer 2.0? I can't answer the first two questions (especially the one about the bagel), but the similarity stems from the Melo Movie screenwriter, Lee Na Eun, who also wrote the screenplay for Our Beloved Summer. She gave us the same set up of youthful lovers who break up without closure and reunite years later. Except this time, it's the man who did the leaving. But that man is once again, Choi Woo Sook, who essentially plays Choi Woong in a different setting and I think that was the biggest mistake. I really loved OBS so when I connected the dots, I was still hopeful, but the story didn't hit the like it did the first time around and too much was the same for it not to feel like a rip off.
Both leads did fine in their acting, but the chemistry wasn't there, and it was more noticeable since there is a direct comparison. The second lead couple's storyline felt a bit pointless, but it had satisfying resolution. I wanted the narrative to move me more, as it dove into heavy topics, but only episode 7 stood out to me. But even then the cheerful music at the dramatic climaxes ruined the moment. I just feel like they could have done so much more with all the stories if they had allowed the plot to follow its own flow, instead of an overdone template. The ML's brother's storyline was such a missed opportunity.
There was an outrageous skin smoothing filter that made everyone look like aliens at certain angles, so that's fun.
Overall, there were some nice moments in Melo Movie, but I would stick with the original version and give this one a pass.
Fun Fact: An eagle eye viewer pointed out the correlation between the episode title names and the films that relate to them:
Episode 1: "It Will Become Scenic When Dawn Comes" | The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Episode 2: "Why So Serious" | The Dark Knight (2008)
Episode 3: "Keep Your Friends Close, But Your Enemies Closer" | The Godfather Part II (1974)
Episode 4: "It’s Not Your Fault" | Good Will Hunting (1997)
Episode 5: "No One Can Prepare You for the Love and the Fear" | About Time (2013)
Episode 6: "Happy Ending is Mine!" | The Princess Bride (1987)
Episode 7: "Thanks For the Adventure, Now Go Have a New One" | Up (2009)
Episode 8: "All You Need Is Love" | Love Actually (2003)
Episode 9: "We Were Like Strangers Who Knew Each Other Very Well" | Big Fish (2003)
Episode 10: "Life is a Beautiful, Magnificent Thing, Even to a Jellyfish" | Limelight (1952)
Source: @cora on MDL (To check out the her full review, click HERE)
Story=2.5, Acting=3, Production Quality=4, Ending= 3.25, Enjoyability= 3, Would I rewatch= No
Trailer:
Director: #OhChoongHwan (Start Up, Grand Galaxy Hotel)
Screenwriter: #LeeNaEun (Our Beloved Summer)
*Disclaimer: I do not own any of the images used on this blog. All images belong to their respective copyright holders and are used for commentary and review purposes. All reviews, opinions, and statements expressed on this blog are my own and are intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. They reflect my personal thoughts and interpretations and should not be considered as factual.
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