R E V I E W :    Needing You . . .   

Reviewed 9/16/00 | Background | Movie Review | DVD Review | Recommendation

Background 

Mei Ah / 2000 / 104 minutes
Directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai

Movie: plot, performances, production, rating

Romantic comedies are a dime a dozen. Video stores in America devote entire aisles to them. In truth, however, very few merit a second - or even a first - look. You need two likable protagonists, realistic tension between them that delays their inevitable coupling, and an elegant sense of humor, mixed together in equal measure. Needing You . . . fires on all cylinders.

Both Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng are likable and attractive. Secondary characters are allowed to contribute funny pieces of business. The direction by Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai is inventive (I especially liked their depiction of how quickly office gossip spreads) and appears effortless. The tone is just right -- the film seems to glide around the protagonists' lives, and the audience is invited along for the ride. The comedy avoids the easy slapstick routine. The pacing is brisk but lingers when needed. Nothing too deep or substantial, and that's the right approach to romantic comedy. A surefire winner, and (to me) a startling contrast to the dark action pieces made by Milkway Productions.

DVD: look, sound, subtitles, and features

Outstanding picture quality. Fleshtones are natural, colors are vibrant, blacks are deep. This DVD looks as good or better than any HK DVD that I've seen. The sound is likewise sharp and crisp.

Widescreen (1:85), Cantonese/Mandarin DD 5.1 and DD 2.0 audio tracks, multilingual subtitles (traditional & simplified Chinese, English). The subtitles are white and were easy to read. The solitary extra is a "data bank" (just a brief synopsis and listing of main cast & crew).

Buy, rent, or pass?

If you like romantic comedies, this is a buy recommendation. Even if you don't, try renting it and you might be surprised by the film's sneaky charms.

 

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