I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
Another film that I was excited about watching on the big screen in the Philly film festival, specially because the film has been set in Philly and I lived there. By the time the film ended, I was disappointed to the core. The film had some really bad acting and direction. There were some really funny one liners and scenes but they were so few, far and between that overall the film left very little impression on me. Wealthy 50ish bachelor Paul is finally retiring from work. His work was his only routine and so he has no idea and interest in either socializing or finding someone for his life. His socialite sister Elise is after his life to get married and determined to find him the perfect female companion. Elise is so interfering and disapproving of everyone else that she has lost the love and respect of her only son Brian, a buddy artist. Elsie gifts Paul a dog and now he has to take the dog for walks where he meets Andy who comes to the park to walk his own dog. Andy is comfortable with what he is and has no inhibitions in telling Paul about him. Andy slowly gets a strong liking for Paul but he knows that Paul is straight or at least he thinks so. Paul apparently has himself been struggling with is feelings. On the other hand, Elise thinks that Brian might be gay and so she is trying her best to accept that by attending PFLAG where she meets Andy. Andy's overprotective friend Roz is the best of lot who makes sure that Andy's heart does not get broken. After individual meetings when finally all of these people come together, it creates mass confusion and hysterical twists. Turns out Brian is not gay and Paul finally finds the courage to tell everyone and Andy that he loves Andy is his perfect partner.
Except Roz, everyone was sooo bad in the acting department. They were all overacting. There was absolutely no connection amongst the characters and they way they would say the dialogues was as if someone is prompting them to say something. The first 40 minutes were so slow and were used to just show Andy and Paul meeting everyday in the park and striking a chord. It can use some serious editing.
Had screenplay been better and acting good, this film could have been a funny film. (3/10)
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