Cross-cultural romance 'Love Barista' serves up all-too-familiar flavor

An Asian superstar impulsively disappears during an overseas commercial shoot. He then crosses paths with a local woman, who, despite the star's overwhelming popularity across the region, has no idea who he is. From there, it's hardly surprising where their relationship is headed.

This "seen-it-all-before" story forms the narrative of the upcoming romantic comedy "Love Barista," starring Lee Kwang-soo and Vietnamese actress Hoang Ha.

Lee portrays the superstar Kim Jun-woo, who is increasingly anxious that his seemingly stellar career may be nearing its end, as rising talents threaten his once-formidable position and his fan base begins to thin.

His anxiety often manifests as stomach trouble. During a trip to Vietnam, where he enjoys especially high popularity, he is accidentally left behind while in the restroom, as his manager boards the plane, completely forgetting him and taking Jun-woo's passport and wallet in the process. An angry Jun-woo decides to go silent, purposefully punishing his manager and staff for their negligence. Cutting off all contact, he kicks off his own unscheduled vacation.

Momentarily relieved to be on his own, he quickly finds himself in a nightmare after Tao (Hoang Ha), an aspiring barista who also works at a noodle shop, inadvertently destroys his phone.

Stranded without money and unable to access his credit card stored on his phone, Jun-woo has to rely on Tao for food and accommodation until his phone gets fixed. The two soon embark on the predictable path of a budding romance.

While the narrative follows a trajectory exactly as viewers would expect, there are still some fresh touches that keep the audience engaged, such as its vibrant depiction of Ho Chi Minh City, the serene tea-growing countryside, a comedic supporting cast of Vietnamese actors and Korean cameos, including Kang Ha-neul, who makes a brief appearance as an up-and-coming star challenging Jun-woo.

The development of the two protagonists' romance is portrayed in a way that feels natural and unforced. In particular, the film's narrative is firmly anchored by Hoang Ha's authentic performance, which helps the familiar plot development feel more genuine.

The movie also cleverly leverages Lee's real-life fame, particularly in scenes depicting his character being mobbed by autograph-seeking Vietnamese fans. It references Lee's high popularity in the country, where he is also known as the "Prince of Asia" due to the success of the popular Korean TV variety show "Running Man."

The film marks director Kim Seong-hun's return to the romantic comedy genre, following "Killing Romance" (2023). He has previously helmed "Confidential Assignment" (2017) and "Rampant" (2018).

"Love Barista" is set for release Wednesday.