Writer: Ng Suzhen

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Watch this if you liked: “Lost On Journey”

The walk into the cinema hall for "Lost In Thailand" may be a sceptical one, but 10 minutes into the movie and you will realise there is a reason for it being a big box office hit.

While the plot may not contain anything new, the character portrayals and jokes are earnestly funny, especially Wang Baoqiang's portrayal as the filial, straight-thinking Baobao. When Xu Lang (Xu Zheng) rushes off to Thailand in secret to obtain the rights to a solution named You Ba (Super Oil), little does he realise that the annoying Baobao would end up being his saviour of sorts.

Using Baobao as a shield to distract and avoid company rival Gao Bo (Huang Bo), comedy ensues as the cat and mouse game begin under the nose of the oblivious Baobao.

Malaysian audiences might not recognise most of the actors save for Huang Bo, who shined as co-host in the recent Golden Horse Awards as well as whose performance can be currently seen in "Journey To The West". While he was memorable in the aforementioned performances, the spotlight, unfortunately, dims for this actor in the case of this comedy.

Huang, who was not in predecessor "Lost On Journey", was probably pulled in as an additional comedic element to delight audiences. Those looking forward to him delivering a standout performance might be disappointed to find his presence in the movie mediocre while hilarity ensues every time original cast Xu and Wang are together.

Wang, in particular, shines as the bumpkin pancake seller who quotes his mother constantly. Like Xu Lang, your first impression of the man in a blonde wig with a huge idiotic smile plastered on his face will have you worried if this would be a character that will be potentially annoying throughout the movie.

Unlike Hollywood road trip fare "Due Date", where Zach Galifianakis' Ethan Tremblay seriously deserves a punch in the face, Baobao's endearing demeanour will unexpectedly creep up on you and before you realise it, you'd start wishing for him to stick around a little bit longer.

Aside from the expected jokes played at the expense of Baobao's naivety (much to Xu's exasperation oftentimes), the gags pretty much pull through the movie effectively with much laughter ensuing at nearly every point. Brownie points for Baobao's pancake-making skills which are not wasted here as he utilises his expertise in a classic scene at a hotel where he attempts to give Gao Bo a massage.

If you are looking forward to something light-hearted at the end of a stressful work day, "Lost In Thailand" would be the cure for you. At the end of the movie, you will leave the cinema with a smile on your face.

Cinema Online, 22 February 2013