Tuesday, November 25, 2014

CINEMA: Heartbreaking comedy

LIKE many of Johnnie To’s romantic comedies, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart was a huge commercial success when it hit cinemas at home and abroad.
With its gorgeous lensing and mischievous take on dating and relationships, it’s no wonder fans fell in love with the film.
This year, To revisits his 2011 rom-com, throwing in some new characters but mostly keeping the same storyline.
The result can be as surprising as watching the first film.
In the first film, we see Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan as Zixin, a young, rising star in Hong Kong’s financial world.
As she settles in her new job, she finds herself juggling the affections of two men: Her eccentric boss, Cheung Shen Ran (Louis Koo) and the loyal architect, Fang Qihong (Daniel Wu).
Zixin eventually settles for Fang and plans to tie the knot.
But little does Zixin know, Shen Ran has never given up on pursuing her — which then takes us to the film’s second part.
Zixin tries on the wedding gown in front of her brother, Paul (Vic Chou) and effortlessly lands a new job at an investment firm run by the “goddess of stocks”, Yang Yang Yang (Miriam Yeung).
As Shen Ran begins his new life, courting Yang Yang, he also realises that he still has feelings for Zixin.
No matter how hard he tries, Shen Ran finds himself returning to Zixin’s old apartment and pretends he is with her.
At the same time, the free-spirited Paul tries to woo Yang Yang with less sophisticated ways.
One of his attempts includes rescuing a live octopus (which he believes can predict the future), from being cooked.
Over in Suzhou, Qihong learns very little about the commotion that goes on in Hong Kong.
He relies on whatever little information that Zixin feeds her through their nightly chat online.
Though it is slightly disappointing to see the handsome actor Daniel Wu being sidelined by the younger albeit boyish actor, Vic Chou, fans of the former mustn’t despair because Chou — who was a member of the popular Taiwanese singing group, F4 —can be a wonder to watch.
Chou has definitely come a long way since his long-haired, teeny-bopper days with the group which was officially disbanded in 2007.
Much like its first film, part two is largely watchable, despite the ongoing loops of who-will-eventuallyend- up-with-whom.
Whenever To turns his attention to the lighter fare (unlike his gangster drama such as Election and the more recent, Drug War), he knows where to hit the laugh button.
Indeed, there are brilliant moments and twists that will keep the audiences glued to the screen.
There is also that elaborate, doorslamming scramble when Shen Ran’s flight attendant girlfriends show up at the same time because they want to be the first to celebrate his birthday.
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart 2 is entertaining with over-the-top performances by its A-list cast.
To takes a gamble by introducing two new characters (and a cameo by veteran actor Lo Hoi Pang) and his bet eventually pays off.
The film’s music score is also noteworthy.

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