Mickey
Tune in for love, remember it for something else
A seemingly innocent puppy love combined with strong nostalgic 90's music. After the first day of October, 1994, Mi-soo's (Kim Go-eun) and Hyeon-woo's (Jung Hae-in) lives were never the same again. It was almost certain that they are destined for one another, but timing could have never been more wrong. With that, it was also interesting to see how thestory unfolded throughout different parts of their lives.
One thing that stood out here was that I liked about the circumstances that they meet and later reconnected were different, which was realistic and integrated with the technology that was common at that time. First they meet in 1994 while tuning in the radio (basically the meaning of the title), in 1997 with the use of email, and 2000 with the use of mobile phones. But despite the use of technology for their love story to develop, it just wasn't their time yet. Also, them meeting more than once despite now living separately was too coincidental. Yet, what I noticed really well here was their emotions every time they met which helped the atmosphere and story's credibility - it was most often longing with each other, and the ache when they have to separate again. It also emphasized the slowness of this slow-burn romance movie and built this tension as to when and how they would end up together.
It was intriguing while waiting when the right timing is. But when it finally happened, I felt that the thrill disappeared and the pacing became stagnant as they now focused on Hyeon-woo's past, which should've been explained more in detail. I really was curious as to why Hyeon-woo became like that, but there were only tidbits revealed about him and I (the viewer) had to fill in the gaps, which was disappointing. I get that the direction was to be more subtle and nuanced, but it wasn't executed properly well here, since there were still loose ends.
Also, a trope which I did not expect to find here is the martyr complex which often leads to miscommunication. Well, since it was already added to the story, it would've made more sense had it been introduced earlier and not just ramdomly added near the end. Not only that it lost the thrill of the "waiting game" between the two, but it shifted the story angle. Although it was somewhat saved by the cheesy ending, not that I'm complaining since it went back to the roots of their connection. In my prospective thinking, with this type of communication or lack thereof, I doubt that their relationship would succeed in the long run.
I think the highlight for this movie would be the music since it was very fitting with the mood in every scene it was played, and it created more substance to the story. Personally, I felt several emotions every time a song would play. At the start, it was more nostalgic yet sweet and innocent; in the middle it was bittersweet yet still hopeful; and in the end it was romantic and cheesy, just like the story itself.
Overall, a mellow slow-burn romance with great chemistry but the sudden loss of "thrill" on the succeeding parts of their relationship and its almost toxic miscommunication trope (basically the shift of storytelling) diminished the spark that was felt in the beginning. Still, its ending was satisfactorily done so no major complaints aside from the loose ends. Tune in for love, remember it for something else.
One thing that stood out here was that I liked about the circumstances that they meet and later reconnected were different, which was realistic and integrated with the technology that was common at that time. First they meet in 1994 while tuning in the radio (basically the meaning of the title), in 1997 with the use of email, and 2000 with the use of mobile phones. But despite the use of technology for their love story to develop, it just wasn't their time yet. Also, them meeting more than once despite now living separately was too coincidental. Yet, what I noticed really well here was their emotions every time they met which helped the atmosphere and story's credibility - it was most often longing with each other, and the ache when they have to separate again. It also emphasized the slowness of this slow-burn romance movie and built this tension as to when and how they would end up together.
It was intriguing while waiting when the right timing is. But when it finally happened, I felt that the thrill disappeared and the pacing became stagnant as they now focused on Hyeon-woo's past, which should've been explained more in detail. I really was curious as to why Hyeon-woo became like that, but there were only tidbits revealed about him and I (the viewer) had to fill in the gaps, which was disappointing. I get that the direction was to be more subtle and nuanced, but it wasn't executed properly well here, since there were still loose ends.
Also, a trope which I did not expect to find here is the martyr complex which often leads to miscommunication. Well, since it was already added to the story, it would've made more sense had it been introduced earlier and not just ramdomly added near the end. Not only that it lost the thrill of the "waiting game" between the two, but it shifted the story angle. Although it was somewhat saved by the cheesy ending, not that I'm complaining since it went back to the roots of their connection. In my prospective thinking, with this type of communication or lack thereof, I doubt that their relationship would succeed in the long run.
I think the highlight for this movie would be the music since it was very fitting with the mood in every scene it was played, and it created more substance to the story. Personally, I felt several emotions every time a song would play. At the start, it was more nostalgic yet sweet and innocent; in the middle it was bittersweet yet still hopeful; and in the end it was romantic and cheesy, just like the story itself.
Overall, a mellow slow-burn romance with great chemistry but the sudden loss of "thrill" on the succeeding parts of their relationship and its almost toxic miscommunication trope (basically the shift of storytelling) diminished the spark that was felt in the beginning. Still, its ending was satisfactorily done so no major complaints aside from the loose ends. Tune in for love, remember it for something else.
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