Rapper Anderson .Paak directs and stars on this father-son story set amid the burgeoning Ok-pop scene in South Korea
PLOT: A washed-up drummer (Anderson .Paak) will get supplied a profitable gig in South Korea because the drummer for successful pop idol present.
REVIEW: Ok-Pops! Is a slightly charming debut for rapper Anderson .Paak who directs and stars on this loving satire of the Korean pop trade. Just like the character he performs, BJ, Paak is half-Korean, with the film inspecting the tradition conflict because the very American drummer is dropped into the zany Ok-pop trade, I need to admit to having no data in any respect of the trade, besides that it’s gotten big through the years, and appears to actually be having a second in North America. In truth, it’s not uncommon for me, in my weekly field workplace reviews, to incorporate Ok-pop live performance motion pictures on the chart, with them reliably huge cash makers as bands like BTS go worldwide.
Paak’s film makes an attempt to serve each newcomers to Korean pop and followers. It options cameos from some big stars, together with Vernon from the band Seventeen, whose arrival within the movie was greeted by cheers from the sold-out viewers I noticed this with at TIFF.
Paak’s film is kind of humorous in the way in which it depicts the Ok-Pop pecking order, with it being defined that every band has a member who’s solely job is to be good-looking, whereas one other is the designated dancer, and one other is answerable for dropping the necessary rap break into the music. To provide Paak credit score, it made me wish to study extra concerning the trade, because it looks like quite a lot of their music and expertise reveals are fairly enjoyable.
However, because it goes on, Ok-Pops turns into much less concerning the trade and extra of a father-son story, with it revealed shortly after arriving in Korea that the younger contestant on the present that he’s befriended is definitely his son. BJ, it seems, was in love with a Korean girl, Yeji (Jee Younger Han), who left him because of his whole give attention to his profession. A lot of the film revolves round him constructing a relationship along with his child, Tae Younger, who’s truly performed by Paak’s personal son, Soul Rasheed, who’s a pure in entrance of the digicam. In probably the greatest operating gags, he impacts an English accent in oder to really feel nearer to the person his mom all the time advised him was his actual father, Idris Elba.
Whereas Ok-Pops was a lighter entry into the TIFF lineup, it was actually good for amusing, even when at shut to 2 hours, it runs a bit of lengthy, with the tempo lagging within the second half after the propulsive first hour. The supporting forged is offered, with Jee Younger Han likeable as Tae Younger’s resourceful mom, whereas Yvette Nicole Brown steals scenes as BJ’s adoring mother. Among the finest recurring gags is how Brown’s character and one in all BJ’s friends (rapper Dumbfounded – who’s fairly humorous right here) can’t battle their uncontrollable attraction to one another, a lot to BJ’s dismay.
The hazard of bringing a film like Ok-Pops to TIFF is that it’s so mild a yarn that it could possibly’t assist however get often missed in pageant protection reverse greater movies. However I discovered it to be a candy little film with good performances from Paak and his son. Given his fame as a rapper and the truth that Ok-pop is having a second proper now, I wouldn’t be stunned if this one walks away from TIFF with a pleasant distribution deal.
