Legacy Is Louder Than Fame

Read Time:5 Minute, 37 Second

MOVIE REVIEWS
K-Pops!
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Genre: Comedy, Music, Family Drama
Year Released: 2026
Runtime: 1h 54m
Director(s): Anderson .Paak
Writer(s): Anderson .Paak, Khaila Amazan
Cast: Anderson .Paak, Soul Rasheed, Jee Young Han, Jonnie Park, Yvette Nicole Brown, Cathy Shim, Kevin Woo
Where to Watch: in theaters nationwide February 27, 2026

RAVING REVIEW: What happens when trying to be relevant means facing up to those you’ve let down? K-POPS! presents itself as bright, musical, though its real heart is more subdued than you’d think. With the energy of a K-pop contest and the fun of a stranger-in-a-strange-land idea, it is a tale of a man who confused what he wanted to do with what his purpose was, and is now at last made to deal with the difference. Anderson .Paak’s first time directing doesn’t attempt to change the genre.

.Paak, who also wrote and directed the film, is BJ, a musician who once had all the promise in the world, but whose career stalled before he was willing to admit it. Taking a job in Seoul as part of the house band for a K-pop competition show at first seems like a final effort to matter again. The film doesn’t make that look better than it is. BJ isn’t shown as being misunderstood or treated unfairly; he’s shown as someone who made decisions and didn’t deal with the results. That honesty gives the character space to improve without needing our sympathy right away.

The key emotional point happens when Tae Young, BJ’s son, whom he isn’t close to, is introduced, played by Soul Rasheed in his first role. Tae isn’t simply hoping for fame; he’s in the system already, dealing with what’s expected of him, the pressure, and his identity, with a certainty BJ never managed to have. The film doesn’t turn this into a contest between father and son. It instead looks at the awkwardness of seeing someone you left behind do well without you.

Rasheed’s acting is a real treat. There’s a casualness to how he appears on screen that feels spontaneous, and in a good way. He doesn’t act out his feelings; he reacts. That realism keeps the connection between father and son from becoming overly sentimental. Tae isn’t written as an ideal child to make his parents feel better. He is cautious, doubtful, and emotionally more advanced than BJ in ways the film doesn’t hide.

As a director, .Paak handles the story as he handles music by building layers rather than rushing moments. Scenes are allowed to develop, particularly the smaller moments which show who people are rather than move the story on. The film takes its time to find its pulse, most obviously in the first part, where the funny parts sometimes feel a little unsure. But once the story moves to Korea, the pacing improves, and the film takes on a more self-assured tone. The Seoul setting is there without being made to seem special, and the camera chooses faces and movement over exhibition.

The part about the two cultures coming together is dealt with carefully. K-POPS! doesn’t see K-pop as something strange or just a fad. It accepts the industry's self-control, structure, and strength without making it a show. The competition is the situation, not the goal. The film isn’t interested in naming a winner; it’s interested in seeing how people behave when approval is at stake.

Jee Young Han brings kindness and stability to the cast, acting as a balance to BJ’s thinking only of himself. Her acting helps hold the film together emotionally, especially when BJ’s story risks leaning too much on charm. Solid performances from Jonnie Park, Cathy Shim, and Yvette Nicole Brown keep the mood cheerful without covering up the central relationship.

Music, without surprise, is one of the film’s greatest strengths. The music in the film blends .Paak’s tastes with K-pop influences feel like people working together, not one culture taking from another; the songs show shifts in power, confidence, and connection. There’s a clear understanding that music is a way of communicating, especially when language and culture make expression difficult.

.Paak never shows BJ as the hero simply because he’s attempting to improve. Progress is slow and often unpleasant. The film accepts that appearing late doesn’t remove the truth of being absent, and that being forgiven isn’t yours to have simply because you want it.

What, in the end, makes K-POPS! work is its understanding of importance. This isn’t a story about winning an industry or getting back to greatness. It’s about resetting what’s important. Fame is seen as fleeting; family is seen as forever. The film’s finale shows that what people remember you for isn’t applause, but being there.

K-POPS! knows what it is and doesn’t pretend otherwise. It’s a kind, easy-to-enjoy, music-based family story that holds personal importance without being crushed by it. While it may not surprise you in terms of style, it earns its emotional impact through honesty and restraint. As a first-time director, it shows a filmmaker more interested in connection than in control.

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[photo courtesy of AURA ENTERTAINMENT]

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