A Wedding Invitation - 分手合约 - 分手合約

A Wedding Invitation (分手合约/分手合約) is an 2013 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Eddie Peng and Bai Baihe. The supporting cast include Pace Wu and Jiang Jingfu. The movie is directed by Korean maestro, Oh Ki-hwan. And distributed by Korean based, CJ Entertainment. The movie spent several weeks atop Zhong Guo's box Office this past spring. I got it as a rental from my local library.



The movie starts in college where Peng woos Bai. Bai is sad and Peng cooks his way into her heart. However, as they graduated from college in Beijing, Bai breaks up with Peng citing that he doesn't have a good job, doesn't have a house, no ring, and doesn't have enough money to buy her her dream wedding gown. Peng doesn't give up and ask how long they should they split for for. Bai suggest 5 years and they thumb print an agreement. The agreement states that if they are both single in 5 years, they would marry. Fast forward about 5 years later. Bai is now a successful artist who is really into food residing in the Shanghai area. A foodie to some degree. Peng has stayed in Beijing and has become a successful chef competing on a televised cooking competition. Peng invites Bai back to Beijing to celebrate his wedding.

Wow, the synopsis is only a third of the movie above. If I go more, I'll reveal too much! I don't want to give too many plot points away. As such, you can imagine that the movie goes into more hijinx. It is a rom-com.

Peng is looking good in this movie. Peng looked the part of starving student when he tried to woo her in school. Bai has an both serious and goofiness to her that does translate to the screen. By the middle of the film, you have grown to like both. Which is where twists and turns start to take place until the ending. In Korean drama-ish fashion, the movie romanticizes food, lost love, and the drive to obtain success. But if I give the kicker away, I can't really write about it.

My wife and I watched this and both liked it. It was a good watch and entertained us for one evening. I don't think I'll get a chance to watch this again, but who knows. Watch it as it is a nice rom-com, sorta, out of Zhong Guo. Eddie Peng fans will like him in this movie. Peng is starting to show signs of a long and lasting career as a leading man.

Go Lala Go! - 杜拉拉升職記

Go Lala Go! (杜拉拉升職記/杜拉拉升职记) is a 2010 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Xu Jinglei, Stanley Huang, Karen Mok, and Pace Wu. The movie is based in Beijing with some scenes in Thailand. The movie is loosely based on a book called Du Lala’s Promotion.

Xu Jinglei plays LaLa, a career minded women. LaLa starts off at a entry level HR position and works her way up. In that same company, we find Stanley Huang as Wang Wei, the director of the sales department. Wang Wei is in a relationship with Rose, played by Karen Mok. Pace Wu plays Helen, Wang Wei's secretary. They all work in this US company trying to make it in China. Sounds like the company I work for now, except, we're an ant and the company in the movie is a elephant. Du Lala climbs up the ranks of the company. Along the way, a romantic relationship starts with Wang Wei on a trip to Thailand. Will Lala abondon her career or go for love? Can't you have both?

The movie was quite slick and I really thought Pace Wu was drop dead gorgeous. Pace Wu made the movie for me. Seriously too little screen time.

As with most big budget Chinese movies, you'll have to deal with the different Chinese Mandarin dialects as will as the Chingrish. And English. The addition of English into many conversations between Rose and Wang Wei seems forced and un-natural. Top that with Wang Wei's American English accent with Rose's British English accent. Very strange indeed.

In the end, I liked the film, but felt that there was something missing at the end.

Tracing Shadow - 追影

Tracing Shadow (追影) is a 2009 film out of china. The film stars Francis Ng, Pace Wu, Jaycee Chan, and Xia Na.

The movie starts with a epic battle between Francis Ng and a barbarian. Ng, seemingly admits defeat and gives up the outskirts number 1 and retreats to the capital. Ng than embarks on a life of playing music. Ng has a chance meeting with a Pace Wu, as a ninja warrior looking for a treasure. 3 others are doing the same and as the 4 compete for it, Ng steps in to assist Wu. Along with rescuing Wu, Ng throws the map away. Fast forward 10 years later and these 4 four are still searching for the treasure. Jaycee shows up as the landlord of the city and falls for Xia Na, the adopted daughter of Ng and Wu.

I can see why this went straight to video. The story is a mess. If it weren't for Pace Wu, I prolly would have stopped midway. They also take comedic shots at Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Andy Lau, Richie Ren, Nicholas Tse, and Jay Chou. Interesting as Jaycee is in the film. This is no masterpiece.