RIOTUS

Anderson .Paak’s directorial debut, K-Pops! is what happens when a washed-up LA musician, BJ (Anderson), makes a desperate, last dash for stardom in Seoul. He joins a music competition’s house band and meets his secret son, Tae Young (Soul Rasheed, his real-life son)—K-drama loves a secret baby. Tae is a talented kid competing to become Korea’s next idol sensation. But, he’s going to need some guidance. The setup is classic: fish out of water, father and son with baggage, and a music industry that’s both a dream and a machine—with heart and a little bit of chaos. Just the way Anderson likes it. YES LAWD!

This family-friendly funhouse hits familiar beats, but the enthusiastic energy and the real-life chemistry between Anderson and Rasheed keep us watching. K-Pops! doesn’t go backstage in the K-pop world, but instead has fun with the music competition set-up, the evolution of a manchild into a father, and a soundtrack with bounce. The cameos are a game of spot the idol: Vernon (SEVENTEEN), Crush, The Rose, Jessi, G-Dragon, iShowSpeed, Diplo, Jaden Smith, and Earth, Wind & Fire all show up, and each one is a wink to the fans. Meanwhile, Jee Young Han, Jonnie “Dumbfoundead” Park, and Yvette Nicole Brown round out the cast.

K-Pops! is a goofy (in a good way), vulnerable story about connection, second chances, and finding your rhythm, even if you’re offbeat.

What works is the film’s warmth. It’s not cynical about the music industry or family—it’s a goofy (in a good way), vulnerable story about connection, second chances, and finding your rhythm, even if you’re offbeat. There’s an almost impromptu breeziness to K-Pops!, like the actors are ad-libbing and riffing off each other. You can almost hear the behind-the-scenes laughs. Some of the best moments are cross-cultural, when Anderson .Paak blends cultural cues in winky ways that feel genuine to both Black America and South Korea.

K-Pops! isn’t “cinema”—it’ll probably see its best numbers when it hits streaming. It’s good friends and family celebrating K-pop and heritage in a movie that’s a joyride. It’ll make you smile all the way to its destination, because K-Pops! is as cute as its title