Feel-good romance lacks distinctive voice and a real heart
I don't have much to say about this film except that it's cute, adorable and wholesome. Conversations are mostly backed up with whimsical music. I don't have a problem with this as the dialogues felt authentic and genuine at first. However, by the time we arrived in the second half the story became dragged and lacked the specifities I was hoping for.The shots and cinematography could have been more creative to make it memorable. The story does not try to be groundbreaking either. This is just supposed to be a feel-good movie although I would have loved if there were more touching moments to evoke emotions considering the story revolves around deaf people.
The story starts with Yong Jun unsure of what he wants to do in life. He's surrounded with philosophy books but he doesn't know what job to apply for. By the time we get to the end, nothing has changed. He's the main character but we didn't get to know much about his thoughts and background except that he instantly fell for Yeo Reum when he saw her in the swimming pool. This is the moment where the puppy love story starts to unfold. The film also noticeably shifts it focus to Yeo Reum's point of view after this part. More or less, Yeo Reum is a more developed character than Yong Jun. We digged into Yeo Reum's background and personality but only to a certain extent and here is where my main issue lies. Her character lacks a distinctive voice and is not fleshed out as I want her to be.
The storyline is fairly simple and is quite the epitome of young love. Although, one would really expect that the film could have had more earnest and compelling scenes just to fully give us that warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
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So Much Potential Wasted
Hear Me: Our Summer is a fairly wholesome movie that portrays sign language beautifully. The actors did an excellent job expressing their emotions. However, the plot was rather basic and lacked that certain something that could have elevated the entire experience.The romance, in particular, was poorly executed and, in my opinion, is one of the main reasons I didn’t enjoy the film. The male lead not only made me uncomfortable but also ruined the romantic aspect with his behaviour in the context of love. I don’t mind that he fell in love at first sight—that wasn’t the issue. The real problem lies in how he went about getting to know the female lead. Completely infatuated, he came across as almost a stalker, a simp, and it was unbearable to watch. His behaviour didn’t reflect that of a 26-year-old man but rather an inexperienced teenager who had just discovered love and had no idea how to approach women—and definitely not in a way that could be considered charming. It was very difficult to connect with the male lead, to the point where I started skipping his scenes and only focused on the parts involving the female lead and her sister.
The scenes with the female lead and her sister, on the other hand, were very well done. Of course, there’s always room for improvement, but their interactions were what kept me motivated to continue watching the movie.
That said, the acting overall was good, and the emotions conveyed through sign language were well executed. However, for a film that’s 1h49 long, I ended up skipping over an hour of it due to the lack of depth in the script. This was a movie I had been looking forward to for a long time and was very excited about, but it ultimately left me disappointed. There was so much potential, but it feels like it wasn’t properly realized, which is quite unfortunate.
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Hear Me: Our Summer Review - ZyKuu
"Actions speak louder than words" - The story was very simple and easy to follow. There was a gentle atmosphere this movie laid out that allows the viewer to be calm in enjoyment. Two nitpicks I have pertain to the dynamic of both main leads Yong-jun and Yeo-reum. I feel as if their relationship did not develop naturally or at a reasonable pace. Also, I believe that there was bit of romance lacking between them. The cast was very small in this project. Yeon-jun's parents were fabulous as they nailed their roles as expected. The secondary couple I wish had more interactions and screen time. Ga-eul was a character I wish we got to spend more time with as I found her story interesting. The background OST was nice and helped set the mood when needed. This film delivers important messages about family and life that many people can relate to. It also peaked my interest towards learning ASL as one day there may be a time it will come in handy, along with making the people who communicate using this language feel more comfortable. In conclusion, I would only recommend this film if you have some free time to spare!Was this review helpful to you?
has its cute moments, but offers nothing new
I haven't watched the original film they based this on, but it seems to have a very simple plot. I feel like stories like these would have been more charming in the early 2000s, but all of it now is predictable. It didn't have anything particularly unexpected that set it apart from other romance films already put out. What could have made it better for me was if they showed more of the characters' nuances and thoughts.. and fleshed out their relationships. What made the ML truly care about the FL so much? What connection did they build from those surface level interactions? I like the actors in this film, but I couldn't really root for their characters because we're not given a chance to understand their intentions.. they didn't even know much about each other?Visually, this film is so pretty! I wanted to take a screenshot of every scene.. it is all so pleasing to the eye.. god knows I WIIIISH the story was a bit better 😭
Final verdict: It is a cute little lighthearted film to watch on a slow day. It offers nothing much else though.
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Missed Potential: Sisterhood Shines, but the Romance Misses the Mark
This film attempts to be a feel-good story, but its execution falters with a poorly crafted romance that’s hard to buy into. The male lead's story leans heavily on a problematic trope: he sees a girl, falls in love, & exhibits stalker-like tendencies, forcing his way into her life albeit with good intentions. For instance, after meeting her and getting her number, he bombards her with messages the very same day, impatiently demanding a response—an unsettling and off-putting trait that makes his character difficult to root for. Such glorified "stalker-ish" behavior feels outdated and uncomfortable, leaving the romance mismatched and unconvincing. The lack of depth in the male lead’s character arc—why he lacks motivation, for instance—only adds to the disconnection.On the other hand, the dynamic between the sisters is the true heart of the film. Their bond is heartwarming and engaging, showcasing their emotional range and potential for a much stronger narrative. Unfortunately, many of their scenes are cut short to make room for the romance, which feels unnecessary and detracts from the story's overall impact. A sismance-focused plot would have elevated this film to something truly special.
From an acting perspective, the performances were excellent. The main actors, including the male lead, did a commendable job with the material they were given. However, the script failed to explore the male lead’s arc in any meaningful way, which was a missed opportunity.
Rewatch value is low for me. There are far better stories that address themes of disability and emotional growth with greater authenticity and depth. While the sisterly bond adds charm and engagement, the overall experience left me underwhelmed.
Overall: 6/10
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Wholesome but lacked something
The romance was sure wholesome and the the use of using sign language for communication was surely unique but the plot was really lacking...The sister of the main girl was very important character mainly because of her large amount of screen time. Her story that she is a girl who likes swimming but feels pressured by her sister to do really well (go to the Olympics). Despite all of that her story felt so badly executed cause the fact that it took her nearly dying in the fire and a couple of days of separation and a 5 minutes talk to fix all of that was annoying. I felt like it was sooooo rushed to give time for the romance.
And yes the romance was cute however I felt like they didn't explore the main leads at all. Because the main guy and girl's personality felt so dry to me, there was nothing much I could even type about them apart from the fact they are adorable.
Random but why has Korean television have such a hatred for main characters having a physical disability, because it either instantly gets cured / eventually or it was just a 'misunderstanding'.
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The happiest 1h49min of the day
What a healing movie❤️I personally loved it and gave it 10/10. The plot is well written. The lesson is clear and the acting is on point. Throughout the movie, you learn to appreciate the hearing ability you have and sounds around you. How scary the world would be without sounds. :'(
I particularly liked how "calm" it was. Who said you need a script and words to convey messages and emotions? Everything was crystal clear through the facial and body expressions of the actors, especially Hong Kyung.
Romance wise I'd say it was actually natural and relatable. They're at a stage where they get to know each other. You can't take shortcuts in love so their relationship is slowly building up and I could feel it.
Anyways, I highly recommend it if you're looking for something healing and stress relieving.
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WATCH IMMEDIATELY
One of the film’s most unique aspects is its use of non-verbal communication, which draws attention to the actors’ facial expressions and movements. Hong Kyung and Roh Yoon-seo deliver believable and touching performances, and their chemistry feels natural. Kim Min-ju also shines as Ga-eul, portraying the struggles and strength of someone in the deaf community with great sensitivity. The movie is visually stunning, with beautiful scenes that capture the warmth and emotions of summer. The music adds to the experience, creating a nostalgic and peaceful mood. Hear Me: Our Summer is a heartfelt film about love and connection beyond words. It’s a great choice for fans of romantic dramas and stories about meaningful human relationships.Was this review helpful to you?
save your time, I don't recommend.
1) The whole movie is unrealistic, if you swapped the actor for an uglier man, every thing the guy did in the movie would appear stalkerish and weird.2) It's like the writer doesn't have any siblings, no one acts like that, its very cringy and cheesy.
3) First half of the movie was very slow and aimless, the second half had to compromise for that, and all the plot points were shoved in it, which made the second half of the movie very rushed.
4) Absolutely zero chemistry between the two main leads and their scenes were very awkward, it was painful to watch
5) Soundtrack sounded like the royalty free music you can find for no cost on Youtube.
6) A lot of secondhand embarrassment because the guy was trying too hard to appear cute it just became plain weird and cringy.
7) Very predictable plot, I was able to guess the plot twist from the very beginning, you don't even have to think for two seconds to figure what the plot twist is going to be.
8) I would say there were a lot of plot holes but the problem is there is no plot to begin with.
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sweet and wholesome
I give it this rating as it’s just super sweet. maybe for some people, it has no plot but I like how it’s corny! I definitely fell for the main couple. it’s so heartwarming that he was willing to be with her no matter what.I love the acting and also how supportive the parents were especially when they first met the female lead.
I would probably recommend if you just want to relax and put on a film to chill to. Ita a quick and easy movie to watch again
- I think it’s what you call a feel good movie
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2nd half: Drama
Ending: Happy
Recommendation: Watch it
This Korean remake of the Taiwan movie "Hear Me" has a more sweet, romantic and cute vibe than the original which was more romcom. Main differences are the sibling roles are swapped, and this adaptation focuses and shows more on how deaf people live life and how they are treated. This adaptation also gives more screentime and story to the swimming sister, also Kim Minju is such a visual haha. We also see a much bigger sister bond and relationship. The Taiwan version is also more OST heavy while this adaptation relies on BGM.
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From now on my comfort movie
I was looking forward to watch this movie and I had high expectations for it. And surprisingly, it met and even exceeded all of them.It was a comfortable, peaceful and cute film, I have only positive things to say about it. The cast did a good job portraying their characters. And the cinematography could create the vibes and atmosphere that the movie was going for.
Watching this movie felt like watching Ghibli movies. That's how I would describe it.
Highly recommend it if you like watching peaceful, wholesome and Ghibli-like movies
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