Maybe every woman needs a guy who'll build her a desk tub and kick the crap out of a dirty old man who's starting to hit on her at work. This is an offbeat story that seems a little silly at first, but whose sweetness grows as it goes along. Chow Yun-fat and Cherie Chung are both in fine form, and the cinematography in New York is gorgeous, my favorite shot of which was the shadow of a train going down an incline cast upon an apartment building. It's neat that the romance grows out of affection and is without a single kiss, yet the feelings are so strong. The ending dials up the schmaltz but it touches the heart, and hey, it's a romantic comedy after all.
Plot summary
Hong Kong native Lee Kay moves to NYC's Chinatown while attending college. When she learns that her boyfriend's cheating, her cousin comforts her.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
September 15, 2022 at 02:50 PM
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Sweet romantic comedy
A sweet and gentle love story
A beautiful love story. Shot entirely on location in NYC. Chow Yun Fat, as a gambling slacker, falls in love with his recently jilted distant cousin, Jennifer. The plot is relatively simple, with a predictable O'Henry-ish twist, but the power of this movie comes from the details.
Chow Yun Fat, in a completely different mode from his action films, is subtle, vulnerable, and amazing. Just watching his expression shifting from elation to despair as the camera lingers on his face is heart-breaking.
The direction isn't flashy, but a few shots make very good use of the NYC locale: the sight of CYF running through the graffiti-covered streets, skipping with happiness, is contrasted by him dejectedly strolling while an endless line of taxicabs file past him. And as the title suggests, the autumn season is effectively evoked.
The movie is a bit old, so the wardrobe/hairstyles look dated. Also, the quality of the picture & general production value leaves something to be desired. Will disappoint CYF fans who are used to seeing him just be ultra-cool. But well worth the effort. (Also, you do get to see ultra-cool CYF in the final scene.)