Paper Moon

I was in Asia for few days when I saw the DVD among the pile with the catchy title though this is not 1973 Ryan O'Neal flick. The vendor flaunted the word 'unrated' and that got me hooked.

A brooding Tian Song (Gordon Lam) is a kite maker and operates a decrepit-like home shop with help of enthusiastic youngster Xiao Dong (Rynn Lim). The business is struggling. An effervescing Gao Man Hua (easy on the eye Chrissie Chau) comes into the picture courtesy of Dong who soon developed a crush on Gao. She had ulterior motive for her attaching herself to the duo especially Song. The latter is quietly alarmed Gao looks exactly like his lover from 20-years ago. Cue flashback. Dong is now played by Tedd Chan. The teen couple goes through the clichéd trial and tribulations having ran away to live on their own. The story unfolds via older Song unburdening himself on Gao and soon mounting her as well.

Let me get this out of the way. The film-makers have their heart in the right places but it wasn't enough. The movie teases, never pleases and ultimately fails to deliver. It was too mushy and very rom-commy. What the flick sorely needed was some steamy sex scenes to shock the viewers into full alertness as they nod off from the dull proceedings. There you go. I said it.

Overly melodramatic, draggy and saddled with weak resolution. Chrissie comes off best. She has this unique voice. Borders on grating but at same time have indescribable sexiness to it - similar to Katherine Turner.