Love on a Diet (2001)

Director: Johnnie To, Wai Ka-fa

Writer: Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi

Cast: Andy Lau Tak-wah, Sammi Cheng Sau-man, Lam Suet, Wong Tin-lam

Running Time: 120 min.

Plot: Mini Mo (Sammi Cheng) has a trashy life. From a slim girl, she becomes a 260- pound fat object. One day she met her first time love again but doesn't have the courage to approach him. However, via a telephone conversation, they agree to meet up again in 45 day's time. Worried about her looks, she met Fat Lo (Andy Lau), a 300-pound man who helps Mini lose weight in 45 days... ?

ALEXANDER'S REVIEW: I enjoyed the theme song to Love on a Diet so much that when I discovered a student of mine was travelling to Hong Kong during a recent Spring Break, I offered her a heap of extra credit to bring back the bounty: Sammi Cheng's Shocking Pink CD. Enticed with the opportunity to boost her grade simply by shelling out a few Hong Kong dollars, she scoured people-filled streets and bustling malls for what must have been her Holy Grail that week (she REALLY needed that extra credit). Not surprisingly, she returned to school with the booty and a bonus, Faye Wong's "Eyes on Me" EP (again, she REALLY needed the extra credit).

But I digress.

If you can can past the sight of Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng wobbling around in pathetically fake fat suits and can stomach Hong Kong romantic comedies, rather Hong Kong romantic comedies by famed action director Johnnie To (A Hero Never Dies, Fulltime Killer), then you just might enjoy Love on a Diet. It's a goofy, charming film that features two of Hong Kong's biggest film/pop stars crammed into foam outfits and squeezed into fleshy prosthetics.

The suits are laughably fake. In one scene, Andy Lau's character, Fat Lo, waves a pudgy finger in Mini's (Sammi Cheng) puffy face, but his finger unrealistically flops side-to-side like a soggy sausage. The premise is all too predictable and the idea of Sammi gaining, then losing, 200 pounds to win the affections of a famous musician/former lover is incredibly far-fetched.

Regardless, the film has a pleasant, light-hearted tone and never takes itself too seriously. It's well-directed, well-written and FUN, an element far too often missing in Hong Kong films these days. Both leads are at their best and obviously relish playing these unglamorous, gluttonous roles. (I'm still waiting for Sammi to tackle something more challenging though). If you've seen, and enjoyed, Cheng's Needing You or Summer Holiday, you should definitely check this one out.

ALEXANDER'S RATING: 7.5/10

EKU®'S REVIEW: Directed by the legendary Johnny To as he attempts to make another love-comedy flick. This one is much more successful than his previous, Needing You (same lead actor and actress). Andy Lau plays an over-weight knife salesman with a good kind heart. Sammi is an over-weight fan of Japanese National hero-musician (forgot his name). Apparently, Sammi is addicted to eating due to a broken heart.

This movie is very funny, just because they are so cute together. I mean the jokes are about eating and losing weight, and it made offend some, but the intentions were all good. If you didn't know Andy Lau was in this movie, you probably won't know who this fat guy is. hehe because he looks very different when his fat.

EKU®'S RATING: 7.5/10