cityonfire.com | Lunch with Charles

	Lunch with Charles "...a slightly above average picture, but for one reason: Lau Ching Wan." - Ben Poppel Lunch with Charles (2001) Director: Michael Parker Producer: Shan Tam, Michael Parker Cast: Lau Ching Wan, Theresa Lee Yee-Hung, Nicholas Lea, Bif Naked, Francoise Yip (Fong Wa), Tom Scholte Running Time: 95 mins. Plot: Natasha and Matthew have both compromised their careers for love. All they have to show for such noble sacrifice is a broken down business and the bitter knowledge of abandoned talent. April and Tong are divided by the ocean, Immigration and warring ambitions. Hong Kong and Vancouver are worlds apart, and the rugged Rocky Mountain landscape is a different universe...where rules don't have to apply. The Quest - is for fulfillment: creative; spiritual; cerebral; and romantic. The Journey - is a subtly hilarious epic of mishaps and heartfelt moments. The Outcome ? is one new relationship, and two free spirits. Reviews BEN POPPEL'S REVIEW: I have watched this movie twice now. The first time I watch it, I instantly fell in love with it. Maybe because it was enjoyable listening to all the broken English, or watching the charming plot. But after the second viewing, I found the movie to be trite and way to coincidental. But don't get me wrong; this is still a slightly above average picture, but for one reason: Lau Ching Wan. Almost every scene he was in was golden (notice I did say almost). It was so much fun watching him play the fish out of water character. As for the rest of the movie and cast, it was kind of up in the air. I enjoyed watching the Asian actors much better than the American ones. Some scenes were funny and kind of touching while others just dragged on and should have been cut out. But what got me was how this movie was kind of moving at a fairly ''family oriented'' pace when a little over half way through Bif Naked starts taking her clothes off, and that is not necessarily a pretty site. Anyhow, some may enjoy. But the dynamics of this picture doesn't really follow a textbook story line, which may charm some and annoy others. I would have to definitely recommend it to Lau Ching Wan fans thoughâ at least with the controller and fast forward button close by, just in case. BEN POPPEL'S RATING: 6.5/10

Lunch with Charles

"...a slightly above average picture, but for one reason: Lau Ching Wan."

- Ben Poppel

Lunch with Charles (2001)

Director: Michael Parker

Producer: Shan Tam, Michael Parker

Cast: Lau Ching Wan, Theresa Lee Yee-Hung, Nicholas Lea, Bif Naked, Francoise Yip (Fong Wa), Tom Scholte

Running Time: 95 mins.

Plot: Natasha and Matthew have both compromised their careers for love. All they have to show for such noble sacrifice is a broken down business and the bitter knowledge of abandoned talent. April and Tong are divided by the ocean, Immigration and warring ambitions. Hong Kong and Vancouver are worlds apart, and the rugged Rocky Mountain landscape is a different universe...where rules don't have to apply. The Quest - is for fulfillment: creative; spiritual; cerebral; and romantic. The Journey - is a subtly hilarious epic of mishaps and heartfelt moments. The Outcome ? is one new relationship, and two free spirits.

Reviews

BEN POPPEL'S REVIEW: I have watched this movie twice now. The first time I watch it, I instantly fell in love with it. Maybe because it was enjoyable listening to all the broken English, or watching the charming plot. But after the second viewing, I found the movie to be trite and way to coincidental. But don't get me wrong; this is still a slightly above average picture, but for one reason: Lau Ching Wan.

Almost every scene he was in was golden (notice I did say almost). It was so much fun watching him play the fish out of water character. As for the rest of the movie and cast, it was kind of up in the air. I enjoyed watching the Asian actors much better than the American ones.

Some scenes were funny and kind of touching while others just dragged on and should have been cut out. But what got me was how this movie was kind of moving at a fairly ''family oriented'' pace when a little over half way through Bif Naked starts taking her clothes off, and that is not necessarily a pretty site. Anyhow, some may enjoy.

But the dynamics of this picture doesn't really follow a textbook story line, which may charm some and annoy others. I would have to definitely recommend it to Lau Ching Wan fans thoughâ at least with the controller and fast forward button close by, just in case.

BEN POPPEL'S RATING: 6.5/10