Melo Movie (2025)

Lovely Little Jewel With Old Stars and New

First, the script and story ROCK! I am so, so, SO glad that they didn't try to turn this into a 12- to 20-episode show by adding more misunderstandings and digging pointlessly deeper into side character's storylines. It was perfect at 10 episodes. It was about meaningful issues regarding love and life, beautifully filmed, written, and acted. The second half was even richer than the first, bringing everything together in a very satisfactory way.

While the plot is built around two love stories, as usual in Korean dramas, don't expect everything to be "happy, happy." Essentially, the main theme is loss, letting go, and moving forward. Every critical character faces this challenge. One storyline revolves around the issue of falling in love at a young age. I think that this storyline would be very compelling for any young, attractive actor or actress who is lucky enough to play a role in this production. (Maybe even some of the actors in this very production.) Yet really, it should be compelling for anyone, because these storylines are true to "real life" and quite relatable, even if you aren't currently experiencing similar issues.

Regarding the acting, it was SUPERB! So many stand outs! I concur with other reviewers that Kim Jae Wook has been under-used in the industry. I don't know why, since he is a standout in every show he performs in. (Watch him in "Antique" if you can.) He always shines, so I have to believe that it is his choice or industry prejudice. He was lovely here. And, while I usually think Ko Chang Seok is disturbingly over-the-top in his roles, this time he hit the nail on the head and was absolutely perfect as a seasoned, although failing director. He was a breadth of fresh air in the dense emotion of the show overall. To be honest, as usual in these Netflix shows, I find the secondary characters generally are more realistic than in Korean or Chinese-produced shows. Here, this lower-key approach helped not only Ko Chang Seok's performance, but also Kim Young Woong's.

ML Choi Woo Shik's role seemed to have been made for him. He almost stepped right out of one of the cooking variety shows in which he has appeared directly into this role. So he was perfect in it and did an amazing job, his best since Parasite, IMHO. (Although he was fabulous, and even a bit more lovable in "Our Beloved Summer," but maybe I just related better to that OBS character?)

In the role of second ML, Lee Jun Young KNOCKED my socks off. He was AMAZING, carrying so much of the visceral depth of the show! Such a nuanced and heart-felt performance. He nailed every scene, wearing his heart on his sleeve in every one. (I look forward to seeing him in his other roles.) And the script thankfully gave the second ML and FL as full a storyline as the main leads'.

Honestly, while the drama was deeply moving all around, as far as acting, most of the heart came from the men's performances. The women all ran a bit cold, and I had trouble seeing the FL's softness. I guess that was in the casting and intentional to balance the men and give them the spotlight. The women's acting was great, don't get me wrong, and each had her moments to let her character shine but for real on-screen emoting, it was the men. Oh, and also the child actors who portrayed the ML and FL. They were great as well, with each hitting their "primary emotion" out of the park.

The only thing that I was not as happy with were the songs that were included in the show. This was disappointing to me, since the second ML was a composer/song writer and much ado was made about a film's "OST" as they call it in Asian dramas these days. While I LOVED the general instrumental background music (all original, I presume), the vocal "songs" for me were very "meh," if not outright irritating for their poor translation into English or quirky modern lyric style (whichever is the reason for their odd wording). Maybe it was the translations or the tunes that made them seem much more immature than the story and characters? But, all in all, the songs really had very minor impact on my experience.

So overall, a great re-watch value and a great little jewel box of a show (just like all the locations, come to think of it: little jewel boxes each.). Congratulations to all involved! This show definitely deserves a 9+ rating.

*********Also, FYI, in a research tour-de-force MDL reviewer "Arthur" let us know where the episode titles came from. Check it out!

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my comfort kdrama

From the beginning of episode 1 to episode 10 it was really heartwarming, watching this Melo movie was really fun and there is sadness too for the character of Ko Gyekm and his older brother too. ko gyeom and kim mubee very funny hahahaha.

This K-drama is very good to accompany you on Valentine's Day. For those who don't have a boyfriend, you can watch this because the drama is very enjoyable to watch for single people ><

I really like this kind of kdrama. Basically, if you like the romcom kdrama genre and there is a little sadness, you will definitely like this and it is really comfortable to watch. Choi Wooshik and Park Booyoung's drama really touched my heart for their story in this drama and the feels are very good XOXO

and this is the umpteenth time this can be the best of the year kdrama in my opinion ^^

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Life isn’t a movie but a reality to live

LOVEDDD ITT!! From the script, acting, OSTs to the greatest of cinematography, it was a pure perfection. The portrayal of what goes on behind the scenes in movie-making was so captivating to see, and as a lover of cinema work, I had fun watching it! Maybe bcs im so used to slow paced dramas already, even without having to speed it up to finish it, i didnt realize how long I spent to complete watching this. I adore lee naeun’s styles of writing sm. It felt so mature and realistic. And director oh choong hwan, ive always loved him since MLFTS and he for sure nailed the cinematography and camera shot in this one too. I also enjoyed both couple narratives! Both were unique and interesting in their own ways. Just when i was about to finish ep 10, i had a slight thought that Sijun and Jua were better off going their separate ways so it would ache a little and be left impactful rather than pulling a cliche move to get them back together. And to my horror i was so surprised they actually never got back together😭 as much as i appreciate how i had the same thoughts as the writer i gotta have to admit it pained me apparently deep seeing them having to pretend they’re strangers to each other moreover after all of those well made lovey-doveys🥲🥲 but asides all of that, this was a great healing watch. It put me in so much peace and comfort while watching. As to that, i rate this a 9.5/10. Kudos to all involved producing this masterpiece!

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Melo Movie is the drama that broke me from my k-drama watching hiatus -- I initially decided to give it a try because it had elements I enjoyed. Park Bo Young, the black cat x golden retriever trope, second chances, and the film industry. I was still left with these things, but instead convoluted, glossed over, and underestimated for it's full potential. I think that's the thing -- or maybe the problem -- with a lot of Netflix kdramas. They're really fun to watch for their concepts, but whether or not they hit the mark with the story they want to portray is really a hit or miss. With this, I would say it was somewhat of a miss. It does a lot of things well for it's genre, but there were a lot of things I felt lacked in it's fervor.

STORY: 8/10

Many elements of Melo Movie were super interesting to me. The storylines seemed to be well thought-out for the most part; they didn't depend too much on cliche tropes but of course paid homage to them for the sake of living upto the title of the show. For that, I enjoyed this drama's subtlety and thoughtfulness; all these characters are involved in the film industry and are creators in some shape or form, so it involves the typical plot of young people soul searching and integrating themselves into their field. It focused more on the characters' struggles more than the industry itself, which could be very intentional and therefore done in a way that didn't feel corny or overstated.

The romances, despite it being the main overarching theme of this show, seemed to hold much less importance than the rest of the characters' plotlines. Like almost everyone else is mentioning in their reviews, the side couple's plotline held more interest to me simply because they were frustrating in a way that made sense. The main couple's problem is their constant miscommunication and stubbornness; it also didn't really rub me the right way that the Gyeom was practically forcing himself on Mubee when he wanted her to notice him or forgive her, but didn't care to understand just WHY she was so annoyed with him or even apologize. Gyeom is childish and bubbly for a reason, this is stated, but the borderline disregard he had for her clearly setting her boundaries didn't feel really romantic to me. Maybe it's because I'm getting older and I have less tolerance for this BS and forcing the FL into doing things she doesn't like in romance media, even though... well... I watch a lot of romance media/dramas and this is a very normal trope that tends to happen a lot. LOL. I do realize that Gyeom's behavior is something that was required to force Mubee out of her shell -- I just wish his approach was more respectful to her.

Also, the main couple's development didn't really impact me in anyway. When Gyeom and Mubee finally cleared the main misunderstanding between the two of them, it didn't feel that satisfactory. It was cute though, and I especially loved the scene of them telling each other their secrets in the car as the music swelled. I think that was more of the direction of the scene however, rather than the characters themselves.

Maybe not a popular opinion, but I really did like what they did with the side couple. They showed the other side of the second chance trope; a couple that doesn't survive, or realizes why they broke up with each other in the first place. A couple that receives proper closure on both ends. Ju-a, I think, was more frustrating than Si-jun in this situation simply because she seemed so confused with her own feelings that what she was saying didn't pair with how she was acting. If she's so sure she wants nothing to do with him romantically, why insert herself into his life again other than his music? Why did she kiss him? Did she want to prove something to him -- to show him how much he hurt her in their relationship from half a decade ago? I think this hypocrisy and complexity from her thought process paves the way for an even more complex character existing in Ju-a, but I don't believe they thought it out well enough for her to have a full character arc. She simply continues being hypocritical in her own way and having us, the audience, never realize WHY she does the things she does, or even if she has a reason to. Most of her monologue is about Si-jun, never about herself or her own ambitions in writing. Si-jun gets his shot at talking about his passion for music, we even hear about his backstory and home situation. But never hers. And that is a travesty.

Finally, my favorite aspect of the plot in general is the relationship between Gyeom and Jun. I love bittersweet brother relationships, but kdramas often make them really corny. However, this is one of the best things of the drama. Gyeom's struggle of knowing who Jun really is as a person, Jun's entire character being this guy who's had to silently suffer and bear everything his entire life, and how the two had only each other to depend on and influence each others' ambitions... it was really beautiful. I cried a little in their confrontation scene, and even while they were arguing, Jun rushed to take care of Gyeom when he burned his hand. With that said, even Gyeom's grief was done alright -- though not perfect, it was well-intentioned and thought out creatively.

ACTING/CAST: 7/10

Obviously, the main couple was great. You got Choi Woo Shik, who is a household name in of itself, and Park Bo Young, one of the top leading ladies in kdramas who has proven her range in her many roles. They depicted their characters well, but I think Bo Young did especially more amazing as Mubee. I felt she was fully immersed in her character; and that she herself was Kim Mubee, rather than playing her.

This is the first drama I've seen of Jeon Sonee, and she knocked it out of the park. She was noticeably the best actor besides the main two in this drama for me (and of course Lee Jaewook, who I was surprised was even in this drama). Lee Junyoung felt kind of weak to me, as he seemed to have, like, a singular facial expression in most of his scenes. He's either dejected or smug, with no in between whatsoever.

MUSIC: 7.5/10

I added one or two songs to my playlist from the soundtrack, so I wouldn't say I hated it. For the most part, it was forgettable. Which is disappointing considering one of the main characters is a musician, and they were making a movie that centered around music. Also, I really don't mean to nitpick, but whoever made them sing English songs needs to rethink their choices. They sounded lovely, but incomprehensible. LOL. I guess that's just the beauty of it.

REWATCH VALUE: 8/10

Melo Movie can live upto its name in the fact that there was nothing too serious or hard to watch that would make it difficult for me to pick this up again. The drama is pretty simple and sweet, with your typical "enjoy life while you can" motif that a lot of dramas with these themes seem to have, a la Record of Youth. The only thing that would get in the way is just that it was... rather boring in the grand scheme of things romance-wise, which is typically the reason why I rewatch dramas in the first place.

OVERALL: 7.5/10

Intriguing and good enough to make me finish the drama, but not enough for me to consider this show memorable. I enjoyed the cast, the characters and the elements that showed their appreciation for the craftmanship of film as a whole, but very little of the plotline really gripped me into the show in any way. It had a lot of potential to be better than it was, but it didn't, but I'm not really disappointed or anything like that. I would just say it was "meh." I liked it, but I wouldn't say it's the best drama of the year. With that in mind, I would definitely recommend this to people regardless just because of the other elements I previously mentioned that I enjoyed.

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Just a run through of our lives!

This is "Melo Movie" in a nutshell!

If you expect a deep dive into the lives of these characters, a finished story, resolved problems and a typical happy ending, this is not for you!

I'm not gonna lie, I was only interested in this show, because of Park Boyoung, but the truth is, everyone, including the director and the writer did a great job in what they tried to do!

I have to mention the director separately, because if you know his work: "Hotel Del Luna", "Castaway Diva", "While You Were Sleeping" and so on, you can tell how good he is in making beautiful, and colorful scenes! The cinematography is amazing!

I didn't have a real problem with the writing after I understood what they actually tried to do with the characters.

At first, it was weird, because I felt like we're missing some key moments, and we're just jumping from one scene to another, but as I said in the title, this isn't really a coherent story, this is just a run through of the lives of these characters!

Honestly, I'd watch 10 more episodes. Sometimes, it was feelgood, funny, sad, cute, and real as it gets.

This is a well-made Kdrama, not perfect, but absolutely deserve the 10 hour of your life! Especially if you love these type of stories.

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A pleasant watch

I started this drama very excited because of Choi Woo-Shik and Park Bo-Young. I was very careful when avoiding spoilers, so I could make my own mind about it.

If I had to define what this drama is about, I would say that it is about overcoming one's pain and traumas. Moo-bi had to deal with the absence of her father, while Ko Gyeom had to deal with the lost of both his parents and also his older brother later on in the show.

Generaly speaking, the drama is really pleasant. The main couple have a good chemistry and a somehow slow build up. The supporting characters are very likeable. In only 10 episodes, they are able to solve all of the conflicts in a satisfactory way.

I had a good time watching this, but not too much to talk about. I shed some tears due to Gyeom's relationship with his brother, especially after his death, that was quite sudden. However, the show does a good job in explaining the reasons behind it.

My only real complain is about te secondary couple. As a person that loves the "once again" plot, I was really in hope of them getting back together. Yet, they did not, which was a little bit disappointing to me due to Son Jua's attitude. Although I understand why she was not willing to get back with Hong Si-jun, I felt really bad for him at the end. They broke up and spent 5 years appart, then she suddenly comes into his life again, asking him to compose the music for the movie she wrote. Pretty selfish, if you ask me, especially because she kept sending mixed signals that left him very confused at some point. At the end, she made the guy fall for her again, after a blunt resistance in working with her, trying to avoid that outcome. Like he said: "you broke up with me out of nowhere, and now you are back out of nowhere and want me to work with you?". I understand that maybe their relationship was not one to be fixed, but she could have at least left the guy alone when he asked for it.

In conclusion, it is a short but good watch and if you like simple stories with a little bit os tears, go ahead!

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A cinematic attempt on life

A boy meets a girl in a studio. Her name catches his attention. He again crosses her path in Film City. He does side roles as a gig, and she is the set director. And they kiss.
Kim Moo Bi hates everything about cinema. She has been watching all those romance pieces that were her father’s favorite, but still failing to understand what kept him glued all those years. She hated her father for choosing cinema over her. Despite having her parents around, she always said that she was an orphan. Her deep-rooted hatred never met a cooling drowse. Ko Gyeum whose life has been built on movies always hides his pain behind his jovial smile. Caught between the chaotic relationship of Si Jun and Ju A, he appears as a happy-go-lucky soul. But the pain starts coming out as his brother Ko Jun dies. The story chronicles the intricacies of life in a tactful yet impulsive way.

Why do we watch movies?

To get away from our life’s hassle or to cherish a story we can never have. Our leads have their own baggage to bear. They have been facing the brunt as they try to live their dreams. Dreams are never easy.

The ten-episode story captures all the nuances while keeping love as the salt of life. Love is never easy. Sometimes it builds us and sometimes it breaks us. We need to know when to let it go.

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decepção do ano

O primeiro episódio me fez criar expectativas e tinha tudo pra ser um dorama incrível, mas com o passar dos episódios foi ficando cada vez mais decepcionante. Achei péssimo o casal secundário já não estava aguentando mais ver as cenas dos dois. Senti que faltou alguma coisa também no casal principal, talvez química mesmo...eles eram fofos mas nada demais. No fim o que salvou foi o kim jaewook que arrasou como sempre! fiquei muito triste com o ep 7 quando mostrou mais de como foi a vida dele 💔 enfim, acabei esse dorama só pra acabar mesmo, quase dropei e me decepcionei muito.

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A more realistic slice-of-life exploring different types of love

I wasn’t supposed to watch Melo Movie, as I was under the impression that the “melo” meant melodrama, as in the genre.

However, the “melo” means “romance” or “romantic” in this context—a mix-up I wouldn’t find the time to look into if I didn’t learn who the screenwriter of the series is: Lee Na Eun.

Lee Na Eun is the same screenwriter of Our Beloved Summer (2021), one of my favorite K-dramas from that year.

It wasn’t just because of the fluff though, nor it was just the resolution for the individual vs self conflicts of the series. It was the character depth that Lee Na Eun allowed the audience to explore.

Given the history, I was then compelled to pick up the series for my weekend binge.

Thankfully, for Melo Movie, Lee Na Eun was able to maintain her momentum in writing compelling characters.

In this series, a flawless switch of POVs among the characters, which includes the secondary characters, was used as a device for the viewers to explore the characters’ complexities and motivations.

My favorite part of the series is that it did not draw a glaring line to separate the main characters from the secondary characters; the secondary characters get their own stage to tell their own stories. With this, the audience are able to invest the same degree of emotional commitment they have for the main characters.

As we get to know more about the characters, we will see how they navigate the desolation of life and the consolation a love may bring.

Pacing is pretty decent for a 10-episode, too, and the OST is remarkable and unforgettable like its predecessor’s.

Regrettably, the plot lags behind, particularly the story of the main characters. It’s weak that it was overshadowed by the secondary couple’s and character’s narratives.

I am also not sure if having some loose ends remain untied is part of the writer’s intention, but some may come off as a plot hole, which is quite difficult to reconcile with.

Setting that aside, I’d still consider this a good slice-of-life romance, with a decent amount of comedy hitting the right note.

I’d gladly recommend this as a good binge for those looking for something uncomplicated but has enough emotional grip to keep one invested.

I’ll also be on the lookout for Lee Na Eun’s future work. Her storytelling style in slice-of-life might have just become one of my favorites!

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A Surprising Experience Despite Some Flaws

Strangely enough, I had heard a lot of negative opinions about this series — which doesn’t really match the relatively high rating it has on the app.
In my case, I actually enjoyed it. Yes, it has its flaws, but overall, the experience remains very positive. So let's start with the good points.
The casting is spot-on. Choosing actors who are usually known for playing villains and giving them roles as everyday, kind-hearted people was a clever decision — one I fully support.
The atmosphere and color grading, shifting beautifully between warm and cool tones, are major strengths. The pacing, with its well-managed variations, keeps the story engaging.
Another big positive: the attention given not just to the main couple, but also to the secondary one — and especially to the relationship between the main character and his brother, which I believe was one of the emotional cores of the series. It’s precisely these kinds of relationships that allow viewers to connect deeply with the characters.
As for the flaws, without listing them all, I would say the biggest issue lies with the main character's emotional expressions. Perhaps it was a directorial choice, but to me, it didn’t work — he sometimes came across as dumb, or even borderline psychotic at times, which felt a bit awkward.
There were also a few slow moments that disrupted the otherwise good rhythm of the series, though they weren't too damaging overall.
In conclusion, while the series has noticeable imperfections, its strong points largely make up for them. Thanks to the well-chosen cast, the emotional relationships, and the thoughtful direction, it offers a viewing experience that’s both touching and memorable.

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Be prepared to cry

So I was never planning on watching this but it was dubbed in English and needed something in the backend when cooking and working. Honestly this moving is not bad it did catch me and made me want to continue but I won't watch it again. It focuses on heavy topics which made my cry. His brother jun and begining of episode 7 I had to stop it for a bit as I was crying so much. People actually go through this and here I am feeling bad about myself sometimes. I just feel selfish and realize I have so much to be happy about. I was so sad. With that said, it is good. The rating is just my opinion, I am no critic. I like happy movies to escape life and like seeing justice served as it is not always like that in real life, I like happy ending even though sometimes it doesn't happen in life. So that is why I am writing it a 7 because for me I won't watch it again and it was just to sad of a movie. I loved the fact it drew real situations and for people it might be what they need and want and if I was just rating the movie itself idk maybe I would give it a different rating but I am not a critic haha. Good movie, great actors, charming guy but to emotional for me.

BTW one of the best soundtracks. I not a fan of music, not really and I loved the songs. I keep singing under sunset and I found out surfing the moonlight. I found out who tomorrow and together band was and they are not bad. They under same agency as BTS. Never commented on a soundtrack before so that is saying something.

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