Forever Fever

"Forever Fever" which I saw under the title "That's the Way I Like It" is an entertaining, but somewhat amateurish film from Singapore.

The year is 1977. Ah Hock is a working stiff, who dreams of owning a motorcycle, but he can't afford one. So, he decides to enter a dance competition (disco of course) in order to win enough money to buy one. There are predictable twists and turns, and a couple of unusual side stories, but all in all it's a nice movie.

Forever Fever is the sort of film you don't expect to like, but do. It's basically a tongue-in-cheek remake of Saturday Night Fever, Singapore-style, including all the bad clothes, hairstyles and music we've tried to forget.

Add elements of practically all other youth-oriented genres, lovable supporting characters and a great reference to the career of John Travolta, and we have a film that's frequently hilarious; never less than charming.

"That's the Way I Like It" is a flick which would never work on paper but manages to be thoroughly enjoyable on the silver screen. It's all about Hock (Pang), a Singapore store clerk who wants no more than to kick butt like Bruce Lee and own a motorcycle but meets a disco dancing hottie who convinces him there are better things to get into than motorbikes. Always fun, upbeat, and good natured, this little English language flick out of Singapore is a kind of "Enter the Dragon" meets "Saturday Night Fever" meets "All in the Family" colorful comedy drenched in nostalgic hit disco tunes. Fun stuff especially for anyone who has ever done the Hustle. (B)

On it's own this film is as good as anything Hollywood puts out. But if you understand the dynamic that exists between Asian traditions and Western Cultural influence, like there is in Singapore, that pushes the story over the edge into the realm of great film. Most Americans (I am one, Irish and Norwegian, but aware of the situation there) won't appreciate the subtleties and the subtext, but it IS wonderful.

This is a charming and touching Singaporean combo of STRICTLY BALLROOM and Saturday NIGHT FEVER with bits of ENTER THE DRAGON (!) thrown in for good musical kung fu measure and pleasure. I am sure you never thought in a million years that you would read that all in the one sentence. Well, all in the one film makes it a delightful mix. Lurching in and out of English Spinglish and various Asian dialects FOREVER FEVER has a wonderful sense of itself as both a urban musical and an Asian romantic drama. Like Bollywood films pinching plot and images from various western films, this low budget Malaysian production manages to lift whole plot ideas and reverse them, and then even chuck in some PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO cinematic off-the-screen advice and ideas from viewer to screen actor. Well made and with a terrific soundtrack FOREVER FEVER could easily be remade in 2006 as a regular Anglo/American/Aussie film and succeed all over again. FLOWER DRUM SONG it is not.