StarEast pushes
a few of its emerging young idols with this fluffy romantic
horror film from the director of Sunshine Cops
and Marooned. Stephen Fung is Lun, a bodysurfing
layabout who bums around the beach with his two buddies
(Samuel Chan and Derek Tsang). When he spies his old
high school crush Siu Yuet (Bobo Chan), he decides to
find her to resolve his old high school feelings. The
three find Siu Yuet through Fanny (Isabella Chan), who
reveals that Siu Yuet is dead.
Siu Yuet apparently went insane
after a high school encounter with Lun (a laughable
incident involving mistaken personalities and torn clothing)
and committed suicide, wishing eternal damnation upon
her tormenter/suitor. Lun resolves to solve their conflict
by appeasing her dead spirit, but things spiral out
of control to sometimes surprising effect.
Nothing occurs here which hasn't
been seen before, though the entire production is mounted
with some measure of proficiency. The few surprising
twists the film provides hint at an even darker storyline,
but as usual the commercial machine that is StarEast
steers everything towards a righteous conclusion. Marketing
dictates that the leads be likable, even if it reduces
the film to a completely contrived piece of Yes! fiction.
As cheesy teen idol worship,
this inconsequential fluff piece delivers the goods
wholeheartedly. The performers certainly are attractive.
Stephen Fung makes an effectively earnest romantic idol
and Bobo Chan is lovely and photogenic. They make great
scenery next to every telegraphed contrivance and cloying
emotion. If we're supposed to buy that this cynicism-free
romantic chiller carries real weight then the filmmakers
failed miserably, but for ninety minutes this can be
a fluffy diversion. It helps if you're fourteen, though.
(Kozo 2002) |
