The Asian filmscape is generally much more sentimental than its Western counterpart. This is not to say that the West doesn’t make emotional films; they very well do, but the values of family, togetherness, and community vs. the individualistic mindset of the West often translates in Asian film and TV. As an Asian person myself, this sticks out to me, and it can occasionally feel overwhelming on the emotions. Recent examples include When Life Gives You Tangerines or Girls Will Be Girls, and of course, the Thai film How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies. While they’re emotional in varying degrees, the end result is a profound sensation. No, I don’t think Frozen Hot Boys is anywhere near this category of very beautiful films, but it’s still got that looming sentimentality that makes it worth a watch.

Frozen Hot Boys tells the story of Chom, a...