If You Are the One

For the game show known by the same name, see If You Are the One (game show).
If You Are the One
Traditional 非诚勿扰
Directed by Feng Xiaogang
Written by Feng Xiaogang
Starring Ge You
Shu Qi
Cinematography Lü Yue
Distributed by Huayi Brothers
Media Asia Distribution
Release dates
  • December 18, 2008
Country China
Language Mandarin
Box office $53.7 million

If You Are the One (simplified Chinese: 非诚勿扰; traditional Chinese: 非誠勿擾; pinyin: Fēichéng Wùrǎo; literally: "if not sincere, do not disturb") is a 2008 Chinese romantic comedy film directed by Feng Xiaogang and starring Ge You and Shu Qi. The film has been very successful at the Chinese box office, and has become one of Feng's top grossing films to date, and has earned over ¥364 million (US$53.7 million) at the box office.[1]

Cast

Plot

Qin Fen (Ge) returns to China in his late forties after many years overseas. He did not earn any type of degree while he was overseas. However, he is good with convincing others. He becomes a multimillionaire after selling an "innovative invention" to a high-profile (but foolish) angel investor (Fan). With his new fortune, Qin decides to put an end to his bachelor life and advertises online for potential partners to apply "if you are the one", that is, only if they are sincere.

He encounters various candidates, from a homosexual former friend, a cemetery saleswoman with a thick southern-Chinese accent, a pathological amnesiac, an ethnic minority pecking hen, an erotophobic widow, an expectant single mother (Hsu), and a stock-holding trader. Eventually, he crosses paths with air stewardess Liang Xiaoxiao (Shu), who previously had a painful love affair with a married man (Fong). Qin strikes up an unexpected friendship with Liang, which eventually blossoms into love during a trip to Hokkaido.

Production

If You Are the One was filmed in locations throughout Beijing and Hangzhou in China, and Hokkaido in Japan from August, 2008 to October, 2008.

Critical reception

The film was a box office hit in the mainland and received largely positive reviews.

Variety states: "After taking a left turn into big-budgeters The Banquet and Assembly, Feng Xiaogang returns to the kind of film that made his name -- ironic observational comedies," and described the film as a "beautifully observed relationship movie is overly discursive in its second half but always watchable, thanks to terrific chemistry between Feng regular Ge You and Taiwanese actress Shu Qi."[2]

The Hollywood Reporter states: "Feng Xiaogang makes an assured return to his trademark genre, the romantic comedy. If You Are the One, a diverting urban lark about an unlikely couple coming together through blind dates, sports an affable cast and untaxing plot, harking back to the airy playfulness of his 1998 hit Be There or Be Square."[1]

Perry Lam of Muse Magazine praised 'the unreserved energy Feng devotes to delivering us the predictable, coupled with the unembarrassed pleasure we take in enjoying the obvious. You can still make a movie with a formula, it would appear, so long as you bring the formula to vivid life.'[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 If You Are the One. The Hollywood Reporter
  2. ↑ If You Are the One. Variety
  3. ↑ Lam, Perry (1 2009). "Beauty and the beast". Muse Magazine (24): 100. Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links