Melo Movie

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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Good Story, questionable direction, Bittersweet ending

I gave it an 8 star but it's more like a 7.5 star series cos I was unable to feel that deep connection with the ML's (not sure if it was because of this being only 10 episode long, or the director could depict it properly). The director is same as that of 'My love from the stars' and for some reason both the series felt weird to me for some reason and I think it's because if the direction style (I don't know what exactly but it is the direction issue , for me atleast)
8 star for some realistic gut punches (2 to be exact) which isn't very common in K-dramas, so kudos for showing them, one being the death of the (you know who) and another being the second leads not patching up in the end (and to be honest this hit me like a hurricane, due to my personal relationship history.. it took me weeks to recover from this.. not even 20th century girl movie fked me up so much), but in the end that's what I am giving the extra .5 points for..for the realistic touch.

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Melo Movie Review - ZyKuu

"If your life was a movie, what genre would it be" - The story was very endearing. Although it is labeled as a romance, it definitely feels more like a slice of life. It excels in teaching you life lessons regarding touchy subjects such as death, family, and love. One relationship specifically did terrific at displaying the realities of a broken relationship between lovers. The family orientated relationships were the highlights of the show for me as I found them to be saddening but realistic. The cast was great, I loved the main lead Ko-gyeom, I found that his acting was top tier and he was phenomenal at displaying his emotions. The female lead Mubee and other characters such as Ko-jun, Ju-a, and Si-jun did great. The OST was good, and it fit the theme of the show well. This drama is easily bingeable, and if you feel like watching a show that is easygoing and revolves more around family, then this should be right up your alley!

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A Heartfelt Journey Through Love, Loss, and Growth

Melo Movie is a touching, beautifully crafted emotional rollercoaster that explores love, grief, and personal purpose with depth. It’s not perfect, but it delivers a lot more hits than misses. If you love stories that balance melancholy with warmth, you’ll love this one.

What I Liked:
1. The Characters Feel Real: Gyeom and Mubee don’t feel exaggerated; they have depth, flaws, and personal baggage that make them feel real.

2. Emotional Weight That Hits Hard: The story has these moments of raw emotion that sneak up on you, especially when it comes to themes of loss, regret, and personal growth.

3. The Soundtrack Slaps: Every song in this movie fits the moment it plays in, adding layers to the emotions the characters are experiencing.

4. Slow Burn Romance Done Right: Gyeom and Mubee’s dynamic is an engaging push-and-pull that doesn’t feel forced but natural.

5. Realistic Character Growth: Watching Mubee and Gyeom slowly evolve—whether it’s opening up emotionally or confronting their past—is rewarding.

6. Strong Visual Storytelling: There are beautifully framed scenes that tell you so much without words.

7. Side Characters Have Their Own Lives: Even the supporting cast isn’t just there to serve the leads—they have their own arcs, struggles, and histories.

What I Didn’t Like:
1. Side Story Frustrations: The subplot with Ju-a and Si-jun made me want to pull my hair out—so much unnecessary back-and-forth that felt toxic rather than romantic.

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Good but falls flat towards the end

For a show about movies they forgot the oldest motto ‘show don’t tell’ in the last episode. It’s just back to back scenes of people rehashing their feelings. I wanted to see more of the movie making process but they just skipped over the whole production. Also the 2nd couple ending is ridiculous, even though they tried to have a heartfelt scene saying it’s officially over, they are really just back at square one. If you have to completely avoid each other and sit in a music shop listening to your ex’s music then you aren’t really over it. The brother’s story was my favorite and was such a tearjerker. I also loved all the wide shots they did throughout the drama.

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Subtle best. The movie name is completely different from the its titles meaning "MELO"

After reading a couple of reviews of Melo Movie, I felt the audience was expecting a different kind of romantic comedy because of its name. "MELO", the meaning outlines romance as the theme, however, this series was a lot more than romance. It was a heartwarming, melodic, and heart-wrenching story of these 4 people experiencing grief lasting for years. This show beautifully captures heartaches, and they move on or bury it in their hearts to slowly carry on living. The good part of this show is that it isn't stretched to make it 12 or 16 episodes. It showcases growth, patience, and love.

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A nice watch but not amazing

Melo Movie definitely tugged my heartstrings, make me bawl like a baby, but I don't think I would watch it again.

The two main leads story:
I loved Mubee and Gyeom's interations and how they developed as a couple and as individuals. Of course, the acting from Park Bo young and Choi Woo Sik was the highlight as always but wished there was more melo between the two. It could have been because of how short this drama was but it felt like something was missing. They were connecting on an emotional level and growing as people but was hoping there would be more dates, more cute interactions now that they have grow towards the end but nothing much,
Of course this drama highlighted more than just romance but if melo is in the title then I would have hoped for something more.

The second leads:
I think these two portrayed exes that haven't moved on, and the complicated emotions that they have for each other well. I'm glad that it wasn't made for them to get back together, but to understand each other's feelings and move on from the past, rather than sticking to those lingering feelings. In saying that, I do feel like it was a bit off putting how this couple's story was involved in this drama. Neither of them had traits that were incredibly likeable or relatable for myself. They both were making the whole drama frustrating and annoying to watch, which could have been the point but it was something that I didn't enjoy.

Family:
I loved how families are portrayed in this show. Mubee and her relationship with her dad is so relatable, but for that to then connect to Mubee and her mother is done so well, and makes this drama so much more beautiful. Gyeom and his brother is definitely a tearjerker and one of the plot points that helps Gyeom grow as a character, but every scene between them is intense, deep, but wholesome at the same time.

Cinematography:
This whole drama is set and filmed beautifully. The key scenes such as the flower field and sunset, Mubee's film set, shots of the streets and Gyeom's house is so surreal and beautiful to watch.

The whole story was good, it made me feel things, and rethink life goals and relationships but if you asked me to watch it again I don't think I would. It doesn't have that wow factor between the couples or their life plots that would make me revisit this. The acting and cinematography is hands down what made this an even better watch, and the continuous concept of movies is smart and nice to see in kdramas. However, that's where it ends. I would recommend but not as a rewatch.

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Heartache and Comfort

Melo Movie was a drama I started watching during a stressful time in my life. I needed something slow, something I could put on hold without thinking about too much. It turned out to be just as slow as I had expected, and while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to everyone, I ended up enjoying this quiet little show quite a bit.

Ko Gyeom, our bubbly and cheerful male lead, has loved movies all his life. His parents died when he was young, and it has been him and his older brother, Ko Jun, against the rest of the world since. During the hours of his brother's absence, in which the latter takes on every possible job to make ends meet, Gyeom passes time with his square-shaped light. Movies are also his connection to his brother: when he returns home, all worn out from mostly manual labor, they watch movies together. It comes as no surprise when Gyeom, upon thinking about what kind of career he could pursue, decides to work as an actor, a profession he's got absolutely no talent for. He does manage to get a few roles as an extra. On set, he runs into the assistant director, Kim Mubee, and he is instantly smitten by her because of her unique name...

One of the main reasons I picked up this drama was its premise: Gyeom’s love for movies above all else. As someone who once watched films religiously, treating them like homework throughout my teenage years and a good part of my twenties, I saw his passion with a knowing heart. It’s a hobby that often develops from solitude; it's a source of solace, an escape into a world where anything feels possible. Like Gyeom, I eventually moved away from movies. But whereas I just traded them for dramas as a lighter form of entertainment, for him, the shift was even more profound. After losing his brother, who had never truly lived life to the fullest, Gyeom sells off all his videotapes without looking back. That moment hit hard—like a slap in the face—because, in many ways, I still prefer fiction over real life. I guess I still have some growing up to do.

Even though I thankfully haven’t faced the hardships of Ko Gyeom and Ko Jun, I found myself relating to many aspects of their journey: the deep bond between siblings, the fear of losing the people you love most, the appreciation for small glimpses of happiness, and, finally, the bittersweet realization that sometimes you have to let go of the things that once brought you comfort.

I would also like to applaud the director’s choices in this drama. The way they crafted emotionally impactful scenes had me bawling my eyes out, even when nothing was being said. The montage of Ko Jun’s worn-through shoes over the years - always placed neatly in front of the door - contrasted with Ko Gyeom’s slightly better-looking shoes, which were always scattered around or on top of Ko Jun’s, moved me to tears. It subtly depicted Ko Jun’s calm and humble nature, the weight of his responsibilities, and how he never bought anything new for himself while doing his utmost to ensure that Gyeom grew up without lacking anything or having to worry. We do find out by the end of the drama that Gyeom’s childhood wasn’t as carefree as he always made it seem on the outside, but that scene…ugh…it had no business making me that emotional.

That being said, I’m glad I watched this. At times, it felt gut-wrenchingly realistic, yet also like a warm shower: comforting, but ultimately a reminder that, eventually, you have to step out, dry off, and keep going.

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