MOVIE REVIEW: “BREAK UP 100 / 分手100 次 (2014) HONG KONG.

“BREAK  UP” 100 (2014) HONG KONG MOVIE REVIEW

 “BREAK UP 100″ is written for the big screen by LAWRENCE CHENG who also directed it to keep a firm grip on creative control.

Boss knows best, right?

It stars EKIN CHENG, CHRISSIE CHAU, comedian IVANA WONG and the capella group who goes by a wacko name of C ALL STAR. (are they referring to See all Stars)?

EKIN is double CHRISSIE’s age, according to the gossip mills, so the pairing is wrong.

EKIN is “too uncle-ish” to be the boyfriend.

So what’s the big deal?

The world is filled with dirty old men courting young spring chickens who are willing to get fried for money.

EKIN still looks dashing to begin with, and he is more than happy to prance around in the film acting like a kiddo.

He’s probably looking forward to a second childhood. It’s great to be young “once again”, as though we don’t know.

Yes, this film is downright silly to a fault.

It cajoles that love can be a game, and you should play games when you are bored.

And when you get tired of it, you can go in for a break up and yet another …. until you form a loop.

Then you swing back together as a couple again, when you start missing each other.

As this movie begins, the couple has arrived at break-up point “99”. One more time would complete the “100” loop.

How can you mend a broken heart?  Then go sign up for this refresher course.

Sam (EKIN) and Barbara (CHRISSIE) have been cohabiting for eight whole years.

Each time Barbara threatens to leave, Sam would give in and begs her to come back, giving her an increasing upper hand.

This time, after their 99th breakup, the couple decides to cement their love.

So they open their own cafe.

Served by employees the Four Boys this cosy cafe is frequented by the neighborhood eatery owner Shui Kee (IVANA WONG) and Sam’s primary schoolmate FreeWin.

In no time, the cafe “with the soulful difference” would become the hottest hangout cafe in town.

Especially after Sam drums up the idea of creating “the Breakup Mini Storage,” corner where customers can exhibit mementos of their breakups for like-minded lovers to see.

“BREAK UP 100″ clearly, is targeted at a young audience.

The script is excellent.

As for the  ensemble cast, the ladies beat the guys hands down.

But it is with aplomb that we must accord IVANA WONG as the next comedian on the horizon. She is a scene stealer.

Cheers!

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Local Distributor: GSC MOVIES