My adventures in in-flight entertainment can be pretty random. After all, I’m a captive audience with a limited array of shows to choose from, and honestly, I just want something to watch while I eat my (usually unexciting) in-flight meal. This means that In-flight Me sometimes has a pretty different show selection process than Non In-flight Me.
Today, In-flight Me had a Single, Completely Frivolous reason for checking out this show. Simply, Wallace Huo is in it, and I’ve been told by people in the know, that I would absolutely fall in love with Wallace Huo once I saw him on my screen.
So did In-flight Me’s selection process pay off this time?
Well.. sorta. The in-flight meal was even more unappetizing than usual, but the movie was actually quite a bit more enjoyable than I’d expected.
STUFF I LIKED
1. Wallace Huo is handsome
It’s true; Wallace Huo is a very handsome man, and I very much enjoyed his manly, rather rugged screen presence. Mmm. Lovely.
I didn’t love his character as much, but I found it easy to believe how a 24-year-old smitten guy would change into a 34-year-old man who’s laser-focused on work and tired-jaded with his relationship.
2. Darren Wang is handsome too
Squee! I’d loved-love-loved Darren Wang in Our Times, and was completely delighted when he showed up unexpectedly on my screen today. Talk about a handsome bonus, heh.
Granted, the fact that he plays a bit of a gangster rogue in this, feels like an echo of his teen troublemaker character in Our Times. But he exudes so much bad-boy charm that I can’t really complain. Plus, I love his crooked grin!
3. Ni Ni as Liang Xia
I’m still relatively new to the world of Chinese shows, so this was my introduction to Ni Ni. I very much enjoyed her versatility in portraying the dual roles of Liang Xia’s older and younger selves. Her delivery of the sassy, outspoken, reckless 17-year-old contrasted very well with her portrayal of the insecure, withdrawn, cautious 28-year-old. Very nicely done indeed. Plus, she’s so beautiful too, in a timeless, Shu Qi-esque sort of way. I found myself easily engaging with our protagonist, and rooting for her all the way.
4. The theme of re-discovering lost mojo
I really enjoyed the idea of 28-year-old Liang Xia finding her mojo again, while being led by her 17-year-old self.
So often, we see articles like “10 things I would tell my 18-year-old self” – and those are typically filled with advice from a more experienced, mature perspective. This is the complete opposite, and I love it. I love flipping the lens around, and forcing a response to the question of whether we are able to live up to the dreams and expectations of our younger selves.
I found it a thought-provoking question: what would Younger Me think of Current Me? Would Younger Me approve of the choices I made? Would Younger Me make the same choices, given the chance to do it all over again?
[SPOILER] One of my favorite parts of the movie, is when 17-year-old Liang Xia uses her conscious body-time to teach 28-year-old Liang Xia how to paint again. I love that 17-year-old Liang Xia is the one who calls the shots; she tells her older self not to be a lazy pig; she tells her she needs to paint again; she even leaves videos demonstrating how. Considering how she had started out using her body-time primarily to go on dates with Yan Yan (Darren Wang), and prank her older self on the side, this is Huge Progress, and I LOVE IT. <3 [END SPOILER]
STUFF I LIKED LESS
The almost absolute separation of Liang Xia’s two selves
Generally speaking, I found it a bit of a stretch that 28-year-old Liang Xia would forget to paint in such a complete manner. I mean, yes, she hasn’t painted in 11 years, but can someone who’s a natural talent actually forget how to paint to the extent that she’d turn out childish-looking blobs on canvas? I found this pretty hard to believe.
[SPOILERS THROUGH THE END OF THE REVIEW]
On a deeper note, I was expecting the movie to eventually mesh Liang Xia’s 17-year-old brand of fresh, bold sassy with her 28-year-old self’s maturity and composure, so that she’d come out of this experience possessing the best of both worlds. In my mind, that would’ve been the happy ending that I would’ve written, if I was writing this story.
But, Show decided to go in a different direction, with 28-year-old Liang Xia basically bidding farewell to her 17-year-old self in a sad, watery, metaphorical sequence, with 17-year-old Liang Xia saying in a bittersweet voiceover that she didn’t have a place in this world, but that it had all been worth it.
I didn’t like that much at all.
I mean, Show does end on a poignant note where we get a silent written message onscreen, presumably from 17-year-old Liang Xia to her 28-year-old self, that she’s never left and is always there. But after making a big deal of their watery separation, I found this assurance a touch hollow and unconvincing.
THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING
The well-trained romantic in me kind of looked for signs of Liang Xia’s romantic happy-ever-after, almost as a reflex. I wasn’t sure where Show would take this. Would she reconcile with Mao Liang (Wallace Huo), now that he’s learned to see her in a brand new light? Would she find romance with Yan Yan? Would she meet someone else?
I’m SO glad that Show chose none of these options. Liang Xia not only reclaims her talent and passion for art and the pursuit of it, she also reclaims the confidence in herself that she had lost while waiting in the shadows for Mao Liang all those years.
I freaking love that in the end, Liang Xia’s happy ending has nothing to do with finding romance, and everything to do with finding herself.
Mao Liang running nekkid in the streets, in a hopeful(ly vain) attempt to win her love all over again, is just icing on the cake.
THE FINAL VERDICT:
Engaging, and even a little bit empowering.
FINAL GRADE: B+
TRAILER:
WATCH:
I found the whole movie on YouTube, subbed and in HD! You can watch it right here:
As person who draws.. I just wanna say that, it is possible for her to forget to draw. its actually not a ridiculous thing, cause it really happens in real life artist; even to myself. As to the Mc, she stops painting for 11 years, so her body, especially her fingers will little awkward at first.
The phrase ‘forgetting how to paint’ doesnt actually mean forgetting. It actually means ‘forgetting how it FEELS to paint’ it was ‘forgetting how it FEELS to hold a brush’. Even me, i stopped drawing for a year and when i decided to start drawing again, my hands suddenly felt a little strange when i hold a pencil.
Hi there, reneesmequeen! 🙂 I am not an artist, so I couldn’t empathize with how one can forget to draw. Your explanation makes it clearer – thanks for sharing! 🙂
hey fangirl ^^, it has been a while , hope u r doing just fine,
this movie was amaazing, imo way more engaging than tomorow i will date yesterday’s you, my sister was impressed by my choices (ur choices :D) , today gonna show her our times, if u had to choose between the 2 leads for an ending who would u choose?
lastly i have been too curious if u dont mind 😀 , do u work in flight services? looking forward for ur next flight experience ^^
i recommend you watch OUR TIMES! it’s a really cute taiwanese movie about high school love and stuff and it’s a throwback too, kind of like reply 1997. its absolutely enjoyable yet heartbreaking at the same time. darren wang also stars in it. ^u^
Thanks for the heads up about where to locate this one. I might give it a go if the mood strikes. I have to admit I feel bad sometimes not being a huge Wallace Huo fan. I find him to be a bit of a wooden actor though I know he’s so beloved. I’ve seen him in 1/3 of Perfect Couple (lost interest) and watched all of Love Me If You Dare (but wish I hadn’t). He was fine I guess. So a huge fan of his recommended the Battle of Changsa (spelling iffy on that) which I know is a much respected drama in China. I think he was fine, but I guess I still don’t get the hoopla about him. So long story short, I don’t stay away from a show because of him, but I don’t rush to one for him either. Hope life calms down for you soon. There are soooo many great k-dramas on right now.
Nice review! 🙂
There is one fact I am surprised you didn’t mention in your review – that this was the debut film for director Zhang Mo, who is Zhang Yimou’s daughter! 😛
Heh. That’s because I’m almost a total noob at Chinese cinema, and since I watched this on the plane and picked this on a whim, I had no idea who the director was, or who she might be related to. Thanks for sharing that tidbit!! 🙂
No worries! Being Zhang Yimou’s daughter is the main reason this is on my “to watch” list, to see if Mo has picked up anything from her old man! 😉
Sounds like a fun movie theme! I wish young me would come and shake much older me up! lol. She had a slew of dreams. Though I think my cautious, shy personality has been consistent throughout my life, there’s still this boldness of youth that gets lost along the way. Many people in their 30’s find themselves trying to re-invent their lives and careers. I feel at that point too. But then that old cautiousness seeps in…arhhh!
I know everyone is wild for Wallace, but I’m not too taken with him. Not really my type. I need to see him in more dramas or movies.
So glad to see you back! Keep up the good work. 🙂
I personally love the theme as well – it’s a fresh take on the more often done “adult me going back to my teenage years to live it again” type of shows. This one managed to be nicely thought-provoking, even while hamming it up with the mix-up hijinks. And I think like you, lots of folks – myself included – would be able to identify with the idea of Younger Me maybe not being all too enamored with where Present Me is, versus Younger Me’s dreams.
I feel like I need to see more of Wallace Huo before I actually fall in love with him like everyone else. This role was on the supporting side, since this was all about our female protagonist, and so I didn’t feel like I saw him at his best. I’m keeping an eye out for his other projects – not only am I curious about his abilities, I do find him very easy on the eyes too, heh.
I’m on my way back! This is my peak work period, but the end of the peak period is in sight. Hopefully, this will translate into more dramas watched AND more posts written for this space! 😉
I watched this a few months back and absolutely agree with your review. Nini’s characters inability to forget how to draw was a complete stretch…especially when the raw natural talent was emphasized in the movie. However, I did love the movies overall message for the female lead, that her passion for her craft and her confidence is her happy ending. Regardless, it was fun to watch and SUPER easy on the eyes.
Glad to see you back. When Im up late editing pictures, getting ideas, or gathering my wits…your site is my break from work.
Aw, thanks absoluteposh! I’m honored that you like hanging out in my little corner of the interwebs, and that you find it a good respite from work! ❤ I am on my way back, in that work stuff is now at its peak for me, so my drama time is extra limited, but the end of the peak period is within sight. I should be able to watch more dramas soon, and post more too. The only reason I was able to post this review is coz I had some time left on my flight after the movie had ended, and I was able to pretty much complete the draft of this review while still in the air. (I’m not always this productive on a flight, just to be clear! 😅)
Also, YES, it WAS so weird that she forgot how to draw so completely! When you’re a natural, you can get rusty, I’m sure, but you just can’t forget like that. Maybe there was a case of kdrama amnesia involved..? 😂