Hollywood Hernandez Live: The Sun is Also a Star

By Michael Hernandez
Entertainment Reporter

Usually, teenage love stories don’t do much for me, but The Sun is Also a Star, based on the novel by Nicola Yoon is a very smart and entertaining movie filled with serendipity. Things occur to a young interracial couple that seems to be in the stars; which is ironic because the young girl in the move Natasha, played by the oldest daughter in the TV show Black-ish, Yara Shahidi has a strong love for astronomy.

She doesn’t believe in love because it can’t be proven to her that it exists, based on science. Meanwhile, the boy in the love story, Charles Melton from the TV show Riverdale, loves poetry and even though his Korean parents have groomed him all his life to be a doctor, Daniel’s desire is to be a poet.

Through a series of events, the young boy saves Natasha from a speeding car, while she strolls down the street occupied by her concerns of her family facing deportation in less than 24 hours. Here’s where the series of serendipitous events begin. After Daniel learns that Natasha does not believe in love, he issues her a challenge that he can make her fall in love with him. She doesn’t tell him why but accepts his challenge but gives him only 24 hours.

By morning, the young couple finds themselves in love, but now Daniel learns the truth; that Natasha and her family are being deported to Jamaica later that day. And there’s nothing that anyone can do to help.

The interracial aspect of the couple’s relationship comes into play, which is an excellent part of the story. He comes from a traditional Korean family and Natasha’s family is Jamaican immigrants. The movie has somewhat of an ambiguous ending and we’re left wondering how it’s all going to end up. But based on the earlier parts of the movie, we’re left thinking that somehow, things will all work out. The two very handsome actors carry the movie. They have good looks and they’re smart.

I enjoyed them very much. This won’t be a blockbuster but it’s a real gem of a love story that is worth seeking out. The Sun is Also a Star is rated PG-13 and has a run time of 1 hour and 40 minutes. On my “Hollywood Popcorn Scale,” this movie rates a LARGE.