Shanghai Kiss (2007)

Set in two dichotomous worlds, Shanghai Kiss tells the story of a Chinese-American actor who doesn't quite fit in anywhere. In his hometown, he's considered a foreigner even though he's American. And in his family's native China, his mannerisms make him stick out in sea of familiar faces. Ken Leung (The Sopranos) does a wonderful job portraying Liam Liu, a complicated young man whose flirtation with the teenage Adelaide (Hayden Panettiere, Heroes) is reminiscent of Timothy Hutton's cautious infatuation with the Natalie Portman character in 1996's Beautiful Girls. It could've been played a little creepy, but the relationship between the unlikely couple is sweet. When Liam inherits his grandmother's estate in Shanghai, he travels to China thinking he will sell the property and head back home. But "home" becomes a more elusive concept when he realizes that his feelings are torn between two countries and, with the meeting of Micki Yang (Kelly Hu, X2), two women. There are several moments when the film has the feel of an afterschool special (Liam's father blaming him for his mother's death), but overall Shanghai Kiss tells a love story in an honest, if not completely realistic way. Feelings aren't cut and dried, and people aren't interchangeable. --Jae-Ha Kim Amazon.com

I love it!

It's kinda unrealistic, com on a hot 16 yrs. old blonde girl hit on asian man. But it's all about his sucky life(funny), but all we do just enjoy the movie without complain!

Still it should be a little bit wild! July 13, 2008

Pleasant and inoffensive but little more.

As a 'journey of self-discovery' story, "Shanghai Kiss" feels to take a few false turns along the way from its refreshingly different start to its entirely predictable ending. While there is much about this production to like, with some genuinely funny as well as moving moments, it suffers in the end from its own uncertainty--mounting to a total confusion at times--as to whether to be serious or funny, resulting in it failing to be either most of the time. And while the music is well chosen, and the cinematography, especially the city-scapes of Shanghai, visually stunning, the cast mostly comes over as being capable of stronger performances than either the story or the script permit them to give here. I found it hard to fully engage with any of the main characters and it is somehow ironic that the best performances seem to come from the supporting bit-players, especially those with only a line or two to deliver, simply, I suspect, because these characters have not been given the space in which to "develop" the ambiguities which plague the principals. And which ultimately robs this film of the substance it tries so hard to establish. July 10, 2008

Interesting, but not much better than the old Fu Manchu movies...

Shanghai Kiss weaves the story of a Chinese-American... who feels as though he doesn't fit in, in the US... moves to China (for essentially no real reason - the idea of inheriting his grandmother's house is hard to believe at best)... and then finds out he doesn't fit in there either!

This is the archetypal 'Asian American Identity' story... which I usually don't have a problem with (being Asian American myself), but well the first strike I have against this movie is that the theme is very very over-done.

The story pulls in some interesting twists... Ken Leung (who is awesome) picks up some random chick in a bar (something you never see in Hollywood movies)... But for some reason he's a wimp or something and cries everytime he has sex... (this seems like some perverse stereotyping here).

Then there is the whole 'relationship' between Ken Leung's character and Hayden Panettiere's character. Yes, again it's good that Asian guy can get the girl... but she's a high school kid and he's in his late twenties... but she's the one in control of the relationship (Lolita complex + again with the 'Asian guys are whipped' stereotype)

Finally, once in China, there appears to be a never ending line of prostitutes as well as having Kelly Hu being in a relationship with an "evil Asian guy" just for the money... You know what I'm getting at here...

All in all, the movie gets 2 stars (knocking off one star for each of my gripes). Especially for a movie that is proclaiming to be progressive... I am quite disappointed. July 2, 2008

A Beautiful Movie About Love And Identity

I got this movie as part of the Amazon Vine program in the UK, it was one of those moments where you simply just select an item because it's free and you know that you only have to write a review for it afterwards. I chose this movie as it starred Hayden Panettiere and I've become a fan of her acting from her role as Clare in the hit TV series Heroes. I have to admit that I didn't expect much, I expected a low budget movie with very little acting talent (with the exception of Hayden & Leung of course.) I was extremely surprised as I was given much, much more than I had expected. I was given a love movie that set the standard for which all other movies should try to aim for, it was intelligent, funny and heartwarming. The characters were believable and portrayed those who faced a genuine struggle, not only with their heart but with their identity; at least that's the struggle that faces Ken Leungs character, Liam Liu.

The story revolves around a struggling American Asian actor called Liam Liu, one day after being rejected from an audition for a toothpaste commercial he's forced to ride the bus home as his car was towed due to unpaid parking tickets. While on the bus he meets a flirty, sweet and intelligent teenager called Adelaide and they quickly become friends but although "Addy" looks at Liam as her Boyfriend he doesn't feel that way, or at least he thinks he doesn't. One day he receives a call from his alcoholic Father to inform him that his grandmother has died and left him her $500,000 house in Shanghai. He goes over there with the intention of selling the house, but while there he falls in love with the house and a new girl called Micki Yang. While living in China he discovers more about his true culture and identity that he ever thought he would, but he can't help but feel that his heart is still in the USA with Addy.

I absolutely loved this movie and I'm glad I gave it a chance, if you've never heard of it before or you're not the type of person to check out a pretty unknown movie then please take my strong recommendation for this one as you wont be disappointed. June 27, 2008

"You still remember me?" . . . "Bunny, you are my every other memory"

"Shanghai Kiss" is a refreshing new comedy about a first generation 28 year old Chinese-American man (played remarkably by Ken Leung) living in Los Angeles, California.

He moves to LA from New York to become an actor, but the school of the 'hard knocks' proves to be quite difficult for him. He struggles and eeks out a living somehow, but painfully relies on money sent to him by his alcoholic father who he dislikes.

He meets a bold 16 year old girl named Adelaide (played by Hayden Panettiere, she was in the movie "Remember the Titans" as coach Yoast's football crazy little daughter) while taking the bus one day and forms a rather confusing platonic relationship. She is infatuated with him, but he resists temptation because of her underage status.

A phone call from his father one day informs him that his grandmother, who he has never met, has died and has left him her house in Shanghai, China.

He flies to China for the first time in his life, to be welcomed by "tall buildings, bright lights and big city". The locals are welcoming and greet him well. He quickly meets an attractive young Chinese woman who he falls in love with and states that "for the first time in his life, he feels he has discovered what he has always been missing".

He goes back to LA to say goodbye to his buddies and to Adelaide. She is very upset and tries to persuade him not to go. But he is convinced he has found what he has always wanted.

He later returns to Shanghai and through his experiences there, realizes, painfully, once again, that he does not really belong in China either. After much personal conflict resolution he returns for a final time to LA and re-unites with Adelaide who is now 18 and no longer 'jail bait'.

"Shanghai Kiss" is a delightful comedy for the ages. Very well written and acted. Educational and important motion picture. I hope to see more films like these and also hope to see more Asian-American actors in lead roles, in similar stories about first generation immigrants, as Ken Leung has proven it can be done, and done exceptionally well! C'mon, where is the Screen Actors Guild or Oscar nomination?!? May 4, 2008

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