Rock is dead!
A young man who is a vocalist in a rock band ends up becoming a popular Trot artist. But he hides his actual identity because he’s ashamed to represent this music. Then he meets a woman he falls in love with, and he must change as a person to win her heart.
Trot is a South Korean music genre that I have zero knowledge of. It’s music that’s not for the younger generation. Trot has drawn some inspiration from Enka, a Japanese music genre. And Enka is intended for people over 50.
Highway Star isn’t the funniest movie, but it has its moments. Especially when the protagonist prepares to sing live on television, and he ends up wearing a wrestling mask because he’s so ashamed is a charming scene.
Highway Star is a charming movie where most of the plot is predictable. One problem is that I don’t buy the changes we see in the protagonist. He has to sacrifice a lot to hide his identity. He thinks he has found the woman in his life, but he must sacrifice everything to hide his identity. And that has its price.
Cha Tae-hyun, who plays the protagonist, is always solid. He’s best known for his role in My Sassy Girl, where he had one of the leading roles. Cha Tae-hyun fits well in these movies when his character has to adapt to situations he can’t handle.
Highway Star is a heartwarming movie, but it doesn’t have the best or deepest story about a man who changes personality without us viewers knowing directly why. This isn’t a deep character study of a man who at times behaves like a fool because of his insecurities. If you are looking for a light and charming romantic comedy, then Highway Star is worth a watch.