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Goodbye, fortune teller, hello, boyfriend ;)
"If you believe the lines on your palm dictate your destiny, don't forget that destiny lies in your own hands."
This super cute short film serves as the opening to GMMTV's unpredictable and quirky "spiritual" series—a successful appetizer in its visuals, flavor, and aftertaste. The love story is nothing new, still following familiar tropes like rivals-to-friends-to-lovers, but the storytelling and theme are truly unique. Perhaps I don't have many words to describe the sweet, fluffy romance in the film beyond a single adjective: cute. When they're shy—it's cute. When they try to make a move—cute. When they're upset—cute. When they argue—cute. Making up, supporting each other, cheering, confessing, kissing...—cute, cute, super cute! It might sound like an exaggeration, but this is truly one of the few series where I felt a cuteness that was completely natural, not forced or awkward, and not the result of characters (or actors) trying to act cute for the camera. And this very "naturalness" is the core element that guides the entire narrative, weaving through every aspect of the production and reaching the viewer's eye straight through the screen. The natural chemistry isn't pushed with "fan service" gestures or a rushed feeling. Every plot point is perfectly placed, with events unfolding sequentially, allowing the film's pace to develop logically—never hurried, never dragging. Everything is perfectly arranged so that a series of just four short episodes can convey all of its intentions without stumbling into potential pitfalls: being forced, illogical, abrupt, or unbalanced in its narrative.
Before watching "Muteluv," I had my doubts about how the filmmakers would handle an anthology series with short stories set within this strange "spiritual" theme. I was skeptical about the polish and romantic pacing of "Hi by My Luck." Now, I can say I am quite surprised and pleased that this project is not the kind of cheap, churned-out series I was worried about. The film has a very clear vibe and concept, with well-developed and relatable characters, and a romantic storyline that is flawless within its limited runtime. If I had to categorize it, I’d say this installment has the feel of a "standard" teen series—but without feeling overly generic like some other youth-focused shows. It has a bit of goofy romance, a touch of maturity befitting their age on the cusp of university, an open-mindedness in its themes, while still retaining that endearing awkwardness and cringe of young love. Overall, the film met and exceeded my expectations.
That's about the filmmaking; now for the content—a crucial aspect that the scriptwriter nailed. I absolutely love the age-appropriate issues the film chose to explore. The love story is adorable, the friendships are enviable. Err is book-smart but slightly clueless, while Mawin is a goofy genius. Together, their love creates a relationship that is sweet, gentle, humorous, and also light, mature, and mutually supportive—in short, it's incredibly admirable. The twist about the fortune teller TK's identity isn't hard to guess, and the "hidden identity" trope isn't new, but it always provides a fun foundation. This time, "Hi by My Luck" handled the reveal quite well. Although it wasn't explained in great detail and felt a little too fantastical, as a vehicle to drive the plot and add a unique flavor, the fortune teller element fulfilled its role perfectly. It not only created a charming high school romance but also built conflict, developed the characters, and evoked empathy from the viewers. This is the part I want to praise the most—the way it addresses the struggles of students about to step into adulthood. It was handled so smoothly. While not deeply profound (due to the runtime), it was free of filler, forced moralizing dialogue, and shallow messages. That's why I say the film feels so incredibly natural. I love Mawin’s story, the way they told his story and the way he told it himself. On some level, it touched me deeply. I didn't find Mawin, Err, or anyone else pitiful, because they are all living their lives, just as we are living ours—ordinary people trying to explain, process, organize, and live their own lives. Mawin and Err, like their friends, are still moving forward, finding their way as they go. Some use a map to advance step by step; some charge ahead and turn back when they hit a wall; some don't know where they're going; some need to pause to find their footing... but no matter what, each is fumbling their way forward to find a path, to find themselves. Therefore, instead of feeling sorry for them, I feel happy—because they are still moving forward; because, despite their confusion and feeling lost, they are still thinking and struggling every day to find their way; because they are still young, with plenty of time for trial and error, with their whole lives ahead of them, and with each other. Mawin and Err are two horses, but they aren't on a racetrack; they are simply two horses fumbling their way along a long road, who happen to cross paths and journey together. Their meeting doesn't mean there are two fewer horses on the road; they are still there, still walking, heading toward an unknown destination. The only difference is, now we have two horses in love.
It's been a long time since I've watched a film I would describe as this "natural." The naturalness permeates every aspect, from content to form. Sea and Keen did an excellent job with their roles, so completely that while watching, I truly felt like I was watching Mawin and Err living out their youthful days—not Sea and Keen trying to follow directions from a script (which may sound like an actor's job, but not every actor can achieve this). Another shout-out to Sea—he truly embodied Mawin, creating the exact image of Mawin I had in my mind. After this series, I truly have a bit more hope for GMM's new generation of actors. They made their characters come alive on screen, and though it was brief, it was absolutely complete. Aside from the drawback of its short length (which could also be a plus—would a longer series have been ruined by drama and filler?) and a few other logical issues—and maybe a slight lack of more romantic scenes (:D)—"Muteluv: Hi by My Luck" is a perfect and complete film for a school-life BL romance. It meets all the criteria of a successful series.
This super cute short film serves as the opening to GMMTV's unpredictable and quirky "spiritual" series—a successful appetizer in its visuals, flavor, and aftertaste. The love story is nothing new, still following familiar tropes like rivals-to-friends-to-lovers, but the storytelling and theme are truly unique. Perhaps I don't have many words to describe the sweet, fluffy romance in the film beyond a single adjective: cute. When they're shy—it's cute. When they try to make a move—cute. When they're upset—cute. When they argue—cute. Making up, supporting each other, cheering, confessing, kissing...—cute, cute, super cute! It might sound like an exaggeration, but this is truly one of the few series where I felt a cuteness that was completely natural, not forced or awkward, and not the result of characters (or actors) trying to act cute for the camera. And this very "naturalness" is the core element that guides the entire narrative, weaving through every aspect of the production and reaching the viewer's eye straight through the screen. The natural chemistry isn't pushed with "fan service" gestures or a rushed feeling. Every plot point is perfectly placed, with events unfolding sequentially, allowing the film's pace to develop logically—never hurried, never dragging. Everything is perfectly arranged so that a series of just four short episodes can convey all of its intentions without stumbling into potential pitfalls: being forced, illogical, abrupt, or unbalanced in its narrative.
Before watching "Muteluv," I had my doubts about how the filmmakers would handle an anthology series with short stories set within this strange "spiritual" theme. I was skeptical about the polish and romantic pacing of "Hi by My Luck." Now, I can say I am quite surprised and pleased that this project is not the kind of cheap, churned-out series I was worried about. The film has a very clear vibe and concept, with well-developed and relatable characters, and a romantic storyline that is flawless within its limited runtime. If I had to categorize it, I’d say this installment has the feel of a "standard" teen series—but without feeling overly generic like some other youth-focused shows. It has a bit of goofy romance, a touch of maturity befitting their age on the cusp of university, an open-mindedness in its themes, while still retaining that endearing awkwardness and cringe of young love. Overall, the film met and exceeded my expectations.
That's about the filmmaking; now for the content—a crucial aspect that the scriptwriter nailed. I absolutely love the age-appropriate issues the film chose to explore. The love story is adorable, the friendships are enviable. Err is book-smart but slightly clueless, while Mawin is a goofy genius. Together, their love creates a relationship that is sweet, gentle, humorous, and also light, mature, and mutually supportive—in short, it's incredibly admirable. The twist about the fortune teller TK's identity isn't hard to guess, and the "hidden identity" trope isn't new, but it always provides a fun foundation. This time, "Hi by My Luck" handled the reveal quite well. Although it wasn't explained in great detail and felt a little too fantastical, as a vehicle to drive the plot and add a unique flavor, the fortune teller element fulfilled its role perfectly. It not only created a charming high school romance but also built conflict, developed the characters, and evoked empathy from the viewers. This is the part I want to praise the most—the way it addresses the struggles of students about to step into adulthood. It was handled so smoothly. While not deeply profound (due to the runtime), it was free of filler, forced moralizing dialogue, and shallow messages. That's why I say the film feels so incredibly natural. I love Mawin’s story, the way they told his story and the way he told it himself. On some level, it touched me deeply. I didn't find Mawin, Err, or anyone else pitiful, because they are all living their lives, just as we are living ours—ordinary people trying to explain, process, organize, and live their own lives. Mawin and Err, like their friends, are still moving forward, finding their way as they go. Some use a map to advance step by step; some charge ahead and turn back when they hit a wall; some don't know where they're going; some need to pause to find their footing... but no matter what, each is fumbling their way forward to find a path, to find themselves. Therefore, instead of feeling sorry for them, I feel happy—because they are still moving forward; because, despite their confusion and feeling lost, they are still thinking and struggling every day to find their way; because they are still young, with plenty of time for trial and error, with their whole lives ahead of them, and with each other. Mawin and Err are two horses, but they aren't on a racetrack; they are simply two horses fumbling their way along a long road, who happen to cross paths and journey together. Their meeting doesn't mean there are two fewer horses on the road; they are still there, still walking, heading toward an unknown destination. The only difference is, now we have two horses in love.
It's been a long time since I've watched a film I would describe as this "natural." The naturalness permeates every aspect, from content to form. Sea and Keen did an excellent job with their roles, so completely that while watching, I truly felt like I was watching Mawin and Err living out their youthful days—not Sea and Keen trying to follow directions from a script (which may sound like an actor's job, but not every actor can achieve this). Another shout-out to Sea—he truly embodied Mawin, creating the exact image of Mawin I had in my mind. After this series, I truly have a bit more hope for GMM's new generation of actors. They made their characters come alive on screen, and though it was brief, it was absolutely complete. Aside from the drawback of its short length (which could also be a plus—would a longer series have been ruined by drama and filler?) and a few other logical issues—and maybe a slight lack of more romantic scenes (:D)—"Muteluv: Hi by My Luck" is a perfect and complete film for a school-life BL romance. It meets all the criteria of a successful series.
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