THE STORY – BJ is a washed-up drummer with a love for music that’s both naive and obsessive. When his friend pushes him to travel to South Korea and work on a pop idol show, he meets Tae Young, a young performer in competition to be the nation’s next music star. Soon, BJ is introduced to Tae Young’s mother, Yeji, a woman he had a brief relationship with more than a decade ago. Tae Young is the son he never knew existed.
THE CAST – Anderson .Paak, Jae Young Han, Soul Rasheed, Johnnie Park & Yvette Nicole Brown
THE TEAM – Anderson .Paak (Director & Writer) & Khalia Amazan (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 114 Minutes
In recent years, it has been difficult to deny how big a phenomenon K-pop has become. As such, it’s time for the film world to catch onto the trend and musician Anderson .Paak might just as well have chased after it. Since it’s his directorial debut, one also has to commend him for also taking on roles as both co-writer and star of this movie. But, even when you read the title, “K-Pops!,” the first thing you’ll be thinking is that it’s a movie revolving around how big a global phenomenon South Korean popular music has become in the West. Instead, you’re getting a very pleasant ride for just under two hours.
.Paak stars as BJ, a washed-up drummer who performs at a karaoke bar run by a friend. It’s also where he meets Yeji (Jee Young Han), with whom he eventually starts a relationship. But, the two eventually find themselves drifting apart, as BJ’s wish for a better career ends up getting the better of himself. Thus, he spends years with his own aspirations, which keep him stagnant. Soon, a friend proposes that BJ work for a South Korean pop idol show, where he meets Tae Young (played by Paak’s real son, Soul Rasheed). As it turns out, Tae Young is BJ’s son from his relationship with Yeji, and he finds that he must grapple with the role of being a father in addition to his long-sought-after career aspirations.
Surprisingly enough, for a movie called “K-Pops!”, there’s not as much K-pop as you’d think. Instead, it’s more of a showcase for .Paak and his son. However, that’s not a bad thing because the two of them are always a whole lot of fun to watch bouncing off one another. After all, it’s an actual father and son connecting over a mutual love of music, despite different generational understandings of where this love would come from, let alone how they approach what can make for great music.
For a movie built around the world of K-pop, one would hope for there to be a deeper dive into that realm. You’ll see the occasional references to artists like BoA, Girls’ Generation, or Seo Taiji & Boys – and even a cameo from Seventeen’s Vernon. Yet, the most that this film seems to engage with the world of K-pop is primarily coming from the conceit that Tae Young is training to become the next idol; we’re given glimpses of the rigorous training routines that agencies make teens go through to ensure they’re presentable to Korean audiences. Even then, it’s a bit disappointing there’s not enough of a deep dive into this world, especially as most people’s understanding of the world of K-pop doesn’t go beyond the music in question.
However, it all seems to come full circle because so many familiar story notes are being hit all around. After all, it’s a feel-good movie centered on the world of K-pop, so this might as well be expected. .Paak isn’t a strong filmmaker, which is evident in very sudden animated transitions or rather flat shot compositions, giving the film the look of a music video. This isn’t entirely a negative, as it’s obvious that .Paak wanted to get this film out of his system to help share that love with his son. However, with those limited aspirations, it unfortunately doesn’t allow the film to stand out from the crowd.
“K-Pops!” won’t change the face of the game, but it is a movie that hits all those pleasant notes you’d hope a movie of this sort would do. Though, you might as well expect some disappointment if you’re an ardent K-pop fan, because that’s not what this movie is about. Instead, if you’re taking a movie like this as one built out of love for how said music can bridge gaps between generations, you’ll find yourself on board with what you’ll see here. There’s also a great soundtrack, which may just as well be par for the course for a movie directed by and starring Anderson .Paak.
