POPCORNX Review: Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
These days, I'd realised my KDRAMA-watches+follows are more likely convoluted and feature "high concepts". HOMETOWN CHA CHA CHA however, is absolutely the opposite of it all.
It is a straight-up "romance comedy" with a straight-forward (ish) script, and story, of course with your sprinkles of "unresolved mysteries" - be it associated with the protagonists, or the sub-characters.
All romance-tropes thus far has both been embraced with cliches, and at the same time updated with a modern sensibility and sincerity, that is utterly refreshing and charming.
As of this review, I am 11-episodes in (of a 16-episoder Series), and will address this up to Ep.11, and leave space for when the series is finished.
First, the basics:
"Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (Hangul: 갯마을 차차차 / literal title: "Seaside Village Chachacha") is a tvN production launched August 28th and is slated to end October 17, 2021. 16 Episodes in all, airing twice a week (Saturdays & Sundays at 21:00). The series is also airing on Netflix, but also at a twice-weekly stream.
Essentially "A love story set in the seaside village of Gongjin," it chronicles a "fish-out-of-water" tale between Seoul-lite Dentist-in-profession "Yoon Hye-Jin" (played by Shin Min-A), and the man with the multiple licenses and all-around village handyman "Hong Du-Sik" AKA "Chief Hong" (played by Kim Sun-Ho). They are surrounded by the villagers of Gongjin - each with their own backstories, ranging from kids to old grannies.
This is a decent "family friendly" series, catering to love-birds and folks whop enjoy their romantic comedies. I'd recommend a straight-up watch while not needing to read a "synopsis", but still...
The very first episode sets the tone and premise, and introduces the characters via numerous scripted coincidental circumstances. If you enjoyed that episode, you'll more than enjoy the rest of the series, IMO.
All the tropes and cliches of "close knit small fishing village" is utilised to it's hilt, and all cliched Modern Civilisation Commercialism is squeezed drip-dry, all of which makes for hella fun, laughter and quite frankly smile-induced tears.
This is a remake of 2004 South Korean movie "Mr. Hong," for which I have not seen, and have no intentions to either way, so this'll be the definitive version for my own viewing considerations, and review on POPCORNX, cheers.
But if you reeeeeeally want to spoil your own watch, perhaps you could google the 2004-film to read up on what will happen. I personally had no specific intentions to, but the alas multitude of SPOILER REACTION VIDEOS onn YT has "helped" me along with their videos titles, FFS ~ LOL
Keywords used thus far: "Healing", "Charming". I am tempted to add "Romantic", but I wouldn't know "romance" if it slapped me in the face, so... :p
Everyone has trauma going in, and we journey along with them, finding out with them, behind the smiles in indifference, and resolving them as we go along, so far... The "healing" aspect of the show (which I've heard the cast mentioned a lot more than I expected in various promo videos) is indeed a powerful but subtle difference in that there is no grand gesture made of them, but the sensitivity surrounding it all, is appreciated and amazingly not meant to be "showy", IMHO.
The scripting and main casts are incessantly charming, especially with their own quirks. In fact, they are "charming" inspite of their quirks.
"Hye-Jin" starts off looking down on the villagers and their lives, while at the same time retains her own individuality, and does not necessarily fall into the "lost damsel"-trope (of course she does, but), simply because she is also head-strong and quick-mouthed too. Or as Chief Hong mentioned "prickly like the hedgehog" :)
"Chief Hong" is everywhere, and does everything, which means he has no "fixed job". In his free time, he surfs, and repairs a literal boat, that is on dry land, positioned on a mountain-top. Mr Goodie-Two-Shoes whom starts off so 'irritatingly' sure and confident of himself, you'd think he might be trying too hard too often, all day everyday.
Both their prickly banter and eventual getting together (C'mon, it's not a SPOILER as much as it is MEANT TO BE!) is a splendid watch and follow, mixed in with the eternal KDRAMA-KARMA of History and Destiny ("Destiny" is another word I try not to use in my review and life, but...). Kudos to the English translators who make it work tho (*I watched the series in original spoken South Korean and dialects, thanks).
As of Ep.11, I am on the edge of my seat, fearing the inevitable Kdrama-trope of "separating the happy couple due to misunderstandings or the past coming back top haunt them" .... But I remain optimistic this series will subvert said tropes - as they have done before in various other circumstance and situations! @.@"
The paralleled lives being lived is interesting. How Chief Hong and Hye-Jin navigate their new found couplehood, while "Hwa-Jeong" and "Yeong-Guk" comfortably co-parent but uncomfortably address their divorce.
Not all "communication" is created the same, and to me is the underlying aspect of the show, of how communication between folks make or break relationships and situations.
In a social-media age we live in now where our lives and loves, and food we eat are shared with strangers around the globe, it is also striking how little we choose to share with the people around us instead, leading to circumstances unfortunate, but eventually resolved, as this is after all a "feel good" show. In a world where dredges of humanity is manifested for entertainment (I love you too Squid Game, but), this quirky and lovable cast helps ticks the right boxes in weekly "Cheer Ups", IMO!
Featured here are a selection of trailers, Spoiler Clips, Tweeted-screengrabs and MUSIC for HOMETOWN CHA-CHA-CHA
Not gonna lie - first time I saw the thumbnail and read the title of the trailer, I did not click on it to watch. I did not want to. Totally not within my Watch-Wheelhouse (as I'd mention ed at the very beginning of this post) .... and it was out of sheer curiosity that I had clicked on the first episode to watch, and now it has become apart of my essential viewing, and without a doubt a contender for my TOP KDRAMA of 2021 Awards!
(Additional info via asianwiki.com)
It is a straight-up "romance comedy" with a straight-forward (ish) script, and story, of course with your sprinkles of "unresolved mysteries" - be it associated with the protagonists, or the sub-characters.
All romance-tropes thus far has both been embraced with cliches, and at the same time updated with a modern sensibility and sincerity, that is utterly refreshing and charming.
As of this review, I am 11-episodes in (of a 16-episoder Series), and will address this up to Ep.11, and leave space for when the series is finished.
First, the basics:
"Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (Hangul: 갯마을 차차차 / literal title: "Seaside Village Chachacha") is a tvN production launched August 28th and is slated to end October 17, 2021. 16 Episodes in all, airing twice a week (Saturdays & Sundays at 21:00). The series is also airing on Netflix, but also at a twice-weekly stream.
Essentially "A love story set in the seaside village of Gongjin," it chronicles a "fish-out-of-water" tale between Seoul-lite Dentist-in-profession "Yoon Hye-Jin" (played by Shin Min-A), and the man with the multiple licenses and all-around village handyman "Hong Du-Sik" AKA "Chief Hong" (played by Kim Sun-Ho). They are surrounded by the villagers of Gongjin - each with their own backstories, ranging from kids to old grannies.
This is a decent "family friendly" series, catering to love-birds and folks whop enjoy their romantic comedies. I'd recommend a straight-up watch while not needing to read a "synopsis", but still...
"Yoon Hye Jin, who works as a dentist, is a woman who has both beauty and brains. However, her life plan falls apart because of the tiny bit of righteousness in her heart, and after various obstacles, she moves to the seashore village Gongjin and meets Hong Doo Shik. She becomes curious about him. Hong Doo Shik is called Chief Hong by the local residents. He is officially unemployed, but he is a master of odd jobs who appears to help everyone in Gongjin with any situation they run into."
The very first episode sets the tone and premise, and introduces the characters via numerous scripted coincidental circumstances. If you enjoyed that episode, you'll more than enjoy the rest of the series, IMO.
All the tropes and cliches of "close knit small fishing village" is utilised to it's hilt, and all cliched Modern Civilisation Commercialism is squeezed drip-dry, all of which makes for hella fun, laughter and quite frankly smile-induced tears.
This is a remake of 2004 South Korean movie "Mr. Hong," for which I have not seen, and have no intentions to either way, so this'll be the definitive version for my own viewing considerations, and review on POPCORNX, cheers.
But if you reeeeeeally want to spoil your own watch, perhaps you could google the 2004-film to read up on what will happen. I personally had no specific intentions to, but the alas multitude of SPOILER REACTION VIDEOS onn YT has "helped" me along with their videos titles, FFS ~ LOL
Keywords used thus far: "Healing", "Charming". I am tempted to add "Romantic", but I wouldn't know "romance" if it slapped me in the face, so... :p
Everyone has trauma going in, and we journey along with them, finding out with them, behind the smiles in indifference, and resolving them as we go along, so far... The "healing" aspect of the show (which I've heard the cast mentioned a lot more than I expected in various promo videos) is indeed a powerful but subtle difference in that there is no grand gesture made of them, but the sensitivity surrounding it all, is appreciated and amazingly not meant to be "showy", IMHO.
Finding myself grinning ear to ear at the end of Ep1 of #HometownChaChaCha #kdrama :)#iliketeevee #popcornx pic.twitter.com/KeIbOV7GOO
— toysrevil (@toysrevil) September 6, 2021
Possible SPOILER in screengrab :p#iliketeevee: Just finished Ep3 of #HometownChaChaCha & about to start Ep4, & I have one word for it (so far): "Charming", and I am charmed lol#kdrama #popcornx pic.twitter.com/gELMzV1VZM
— toysrevil (@toysrevil) September 7, 2021
The scripting and main casts are incessantly charming, especially with their own quirks. In fact, they are "charming" inspite of their quirks.
"Hye-Jin" starts off looking down on the villagers and their lives, while at the same time retains her own individuality, and does not necessarily fall into the "lost damsel"-trope (of course she does, but), simply because she is also head-strong and quick-mouthed too. Or as Chief Hong mentioned "prickly like the hedgehog" :)
"Chief Hong" is everywhere, and does everything, which means he has no "fixed job". In his free time, he surfs, and repairs a literal boat, that is on dry land, positioned on a mountain-top. Mr Goodie-Two-Shoes whom starts off so 'irritatingly' sure and confident of himself, you'd think he might be trying too hard too often, all day everyday.
Both their prickly banter and eventual getting together (C'mon, it's not a SPOILER as much as it is MEANT TO BE!) is a splendid watch and follow, mixed in with the eternal KDRAMA-KARMA of History and Destiny ("Destiny" is another word I try not to use in my review and life, but...). Kudos to the English translators who make it work tho (*I watched the series in original spoken South Korean and dialects, thanks).
As of Ep.11, I am on the edge of my seat, fearing the inevitable Kdrama-trope of "separating the happy couple due to misunderstandings or the past coming back top haunt them" .... But I remain optimistic this series will subvert said tropes - as they have done before in various other circumstance and situations! @.@"
The paralleled lives being lived is interesting. How Chief Hong and Hye-Jin navigate their new found couplehood, while "Hwa-Jeong" and "Yeong-Guk" comfortably co-parent but uncomfortably address their divorce.
Not all "communication" is created the same, and to me is the underlying aspect of the show, of how communication between folks make or break relationships and situations.
In a social-media age we live in now where our lives and loves, and food we eat are shared with strangers around the globe, it is also striking how little we choose to share with the people around us instead, leading to circumstances unfortunate, but eventually resolved, as this is after all a "feel good" show. In a world where dredges of humanity is manifested for entertainment (I love you too Squid Game, but), this quirky and lovable cast helps ticks the right boxes in weekly "Cheer Ups", IMO!
Featured here are a selection of trailers, Spoiler Clips, Tweeted-screengrabs and MUSIC for HOMETOWN CHA-CHA-CHA
Not gonna lie - first time I saw the thumbnail and read the title of the trailer, I did not click on it to watch. I did not want to. Totally not within my Watch-Wheelhouse (as I'd mention ed at the very beginning of this post) .... and it was out of sheer curiosity that I had clicked on the first episode to watch, and now it has become apart of my essential viewing, and without a doubt a contender for my TOP KDRAMA of 2021 Awards!
(Additional info via asianwiki.com)
Comments
Post a Comment