R E V I E W

Everyday is Valentine

2001. Universe. 99 minutes.
Directed by Wong Jing.
Written by Wong Jing.

With Leon Lai, Cecilia Cheung.

B A C K G R O U N D
director, in cinemas, recent and related films

The film opened in Hong Kong cinemas a bit late for Valentine's Day (April 12, 2001), but it still played for more than a month and grossed a very respectable HK $10.9 million.

Wong Jing directed two more films during the year, My School Mate, the Barbarian, and Love Me, Love My Money.

M O V I E

plot
OK Lai is a property agent. He is also an inveterate liar. He is attracted to Wonderful, an office worker. Although an adult, she has not yet experienced puberty (!). She instantly ends a seven-year relationship with her boyfriend upon hearing that he and one of her friends had a drunken one-night stand. So she is wary of OK's attentions. Can OK and Wonderful find true love?

performances
Leon Lai Ming comes very close to pulling off the character of OK Lai. He is not quite able to convince the audience that he is quite so feckless, but he does manifest a certain degree of charm. Cecilia Cheung Pak-Chi is adrift as Wonderful. She has trouble getting a handle on how to play the role, and the lackluster script and direction do not help.

A host of supporting performances range from appealing to annoying.

production
Carbonated beverages can really hit the spot on a hot day. Left open too long, however, and they go flat. That seems to be what happened with this movie.

It was a chore to sit through, with little genuine wit or amusement to distract. The basic problem is that it's a character-driven movie (as romances should be) with very little character development. As an example: We know OK Lai is a habitual liar. Yet the root of his problem is never explored. He seems reasonably successful and decent looking. Why does he lack self-esteem? What does he gain from deceiving his supposed "buddies"?

If there were something in his relationship with Wonderful that played off this, that helped him to realize the hurt he caused and recognize that he needed to change, perhaps the last few scenes would play truer to the heart. Instead, the only real motivation for change is entirely selfish. Left alone, abandoned by friends, his only hope is that Wonderful will notice and take him back. Only a last ditch, manufactured "only in the movies" plot twist enables their eventual reconciliation.

That's not to say that the film is entirely without merit. There's a pleasing variety of locations and a rotating cast of supporting performers. Yet on the whole, it's another case of potential being noted but not fulfilled.

Unremarkable cinematography by the talented Poon Hang-Sang (Peking Opera Blues, A Chinese Ghost Story, The Legend of Zu). Marco Mak Chi-Sin (Once Upon a Time in China, Full Alert) edited the film.

rating
Category IIA. Some sexual references in the dialogue.

D V D

look
The letterboxed presentation looks good in the majority of the exterior scenes set at night, and the interiors also appear presentable. But a number of scenes (especially the daytime ones) appear washed out to some extent by poor lighting schemes. The source print also displays a fair amount of wear, evidenced by frequent dust and speckling.

sound
The Cantonese DD 5.1 audio track sounded fine. Little use is made of the surround or LFE channels. Also included is a Mandarin DD 5.1 track.

subtitles
The white removable English subtitles are well timed. The translation is not the best, but it doesn't detract too much from the story. Traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles are also provided.

features
Eight chapters can be selected from a video capture menu. Stars' Files are provided for Leon Lai, Cecilia Cheung, and Wong Jing. The original theatrical trailer is included, as are trailers for Hit Team, Lavender, and Forever and Ever. An eight-minute "making of" features interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and excerpts from the film, but no English subtitles.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N
buy, rent, or pass?

Rent. Low priority. If you are a big fan of Leon Lai and/or Cecilia Cheung, you may rate this higher than I did.

(Reviewed January 24, 2002)

THIS DVD IS AVAILABLE AT HKFLIX.COM