Writer: Tammy Ang

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: "Love, Actually", "Paris, Je t'Aime"

Peculiarly coincidental to the current regional heatwave and Valentine's season is the Mandarin-Cantonese release of "Hot Summer Days", a rom-com that won't escape being compared to Hollywood's "Love, Actually", especially with its ensemble cast.

The six intertwined love stories are set in an unusually hot summer and feature some A-list actors like Nicholas Tse, Barbie Hsu, Jacky Cheung, Rene Liu, Daniel Wu and Vivian Hsu. There's also an appearance of two kissing fishes voiced by Joey Yung and Jan Lam Hoi Fung!

Of all the couples, the one that would move most hearts would be the love story between a middle-aged driver played by Jacky Cheung and a foot masseuse played by Rene Liu, in which the relationship starts with a mobile text message that was sent by mistake. There are a lot of funny interaction and also positive, heart-warming moments between these pairs. A point to note is that Barbie Hsu ("Connected", "On His Majesty's Secret Service") who has always been known for her sensuous, feminine looks with beautiful long hair, turns into a rebellious biker chick in this movie! Her smoky eyes, boyish short hair, tattooed arm and tight clothes will surely take you by surprise. Other appearances include Shawn Yue, Gordon La and Charlene Choi.

Photographer-turned-filmmaker Wing Shya has given it a good go with this simple yet touching debut, although the editing for pace and continuity could have been better, not to mention the inclusion of a rather unrealistic CGI scene. However, the movie is value for money and the ladies had better remember to grab some tissue papers in anticipation of the tear-jerking moments.

Do look out for the most astonishing moment of the film in a sushi restaurant where an emotional woman (played by long-missing star Maggie Cheung) cries for three minutes in an inspired, flawless performance that has got Netizens saying that it was a reflection of her true sentiments in her current life.

Cinema Online, 24 February 2010