I. Introduction
The Star Next Door is a 2017 South Korean film directed by Kim Sung Wook, starring Han Chae Young, Jin Ji Hee, Im Hyung Joon, Im Seulong, Sol Bi, & more. It was released in South Korea on September 21, 2017 through Storm Pictures with the runtime of 98 minutes.
II. Synopsis
Hye Mi (Han Chae Young) is an A-list celebrity whose every move is photographed and published in the tabloids. But she has managed to hide the fact that she is a single mother of So Eun (Jin Ji Hee), a high school student who lives next door to her. Hye Mi and So Eun bicker their way through their complicated mother-daughter relationship, but it becomes even more strained when Hye Mi gets caught up in a dating scandal with famous idol Ji Hoon (Im Seulong). So Eun is in love with Ji Hoon and doesn’t want her mother to be dating him. With the paparazzi watching her every move, can Hye Mi keep her biggest secret from the public?
III. Cast
| Pic | Name | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Han Chae Young | Hye Mi | |
| Jin Ji Hee | So Eun | |
| Im Seulong | Ji Hoon | |
| Sol Bi | Mi Hyang | |
| Im Hyung Joon | Reporter Kim |
IV. Trailer
V. Movie
VI. Reception
It has received a mixed review from The Asian Cinematic Critic as following - Star Nextdoor isn’t anything special. It had the potential to be a lot more biting than it was, and a real comedic takedown of the unhealthy relationship fans have with their idols. As it stands, it’s just sort of bland, with theoretically fascinating characters and plot threads. The stakes never feel high, and the tonal whiplash that happens between melodramatic scenes and outright goofy moments is too much at times. Star Nextdoor isn’t terrible, but its weird pacing and dubious characterisations aren’t even enough to make it particularly memorable. As it stands, it’s just sort of an OK mixed bag that never knows what it wants to be. Currently, it has scored 9.2 from Rakuten Viki, 7.5 from Mydramalist, 6.2 from IMDB.
