Love in Taipei

I was super excited after seeing the trailer, I love Ross Butler and Niko Hiraga. I'm a sucker for a love triangle and/or coming of age movie. It was definitely a cute watch but I was expecting more from it. Some of the writing was cringey (the Ever jokes like "forever ever" and "never ever", come on) and the acting was mid in some scenes. I feel like the film was trying to be a crazy rich asians teen version but it was just awkward in some scenes, I wasn't expecting the story to be anything amazing, it's a finding myself teen movie, the plot is very expected but I felt like they could've carried it out better. Still a good watch if you need a lighthearted cute movie for a night in or something.

Amazing film! We need more stories like this! This film literally takes you on a journey of not only exploring a beautiful culture but also highlights many things Asian-Americans go through from family to cultural issues. The characters are easy to fall in love with! The story is very personal and relatable to anyone who has a dream or feels lost on their own journey! The cinematography is jaw dropping with Taipei on display in such a beautiful manner that it naturally feels like another character in the film! The soundtrack is hip, yet very moving.

This movie has one quality that few movies possess. It has a big beating heart! You will find yourself rooting for the characters! These films are not made nearly enough. These stories will fill your heart, and open your mind to new worlds. You can feel the love the author, cast, and crew put into every single frame of this movie!

This is one of those rare films I watch that leave me knowing it will be a movie I'll watch for years to come! Go see this movie! Yes you!! Stop reading this and go watch this incredible film that will fill with hope and leave you wanting more!! This is filmmaking at its finest! My favorite film of 2023 so far.

IN A NUTSHELL: Directed by Arvin Chen, this story is about a group of American teens with Asian heritage, experiencing Taiwan for 8 weeks during the summer break.

LOVE IN TAIPEI follows a young woman's cultural immersion program in Taiwan turns out to be a liberating free-for-all known as "Loveboat" where unexpected romance leads her to question her future. Based on the best-selling book "Loveboat, Taipei" by Abigail Hing Wen.

On a personal note, my daughter-in-law is Chinese (from Hong Kong) and now I have an adorable grandson who is half Chinese. Asian women are so beautiful.

THINGS I LIKED: The starlet of the film is Ashley Liao, possibly new to viewers, even though she has been in quite a few movies, including Fresh Off The Boat, which got a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. She's lovely and so talented.

Other cast members include Ross Butler, Nico Hiraga, Chelsea Zhang, and Cindy Cheung.

People will learn more about Taiwan and be introduced to their language, dance, art, music, architecture, and street food. It's on my list of amazing places to go!

I was really excited about the movie Joy Ride because I knew it was going to showcase China, but it was SO raunchy that I only lasted about 20 minutes. This film is so much sweeter and appropriate.

The film was shot on location in Taipei.

We get to hear some familiar American tunes with the lyrics sung in Mandarin, as well as a few Chinese songs.

What girl doesn't want two handsome boys who are crazy about her to choose from?

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:

It seems unlikely that a girl whose parents immigrated from Taiwan wouldn't speak even a little bit of Mandarin.

It's pretty doggone predictable. It follows the classic coming-of-age tale of a young woman trying to become independent and discover what she truly wants in this world.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Some "light" profanity.

Teens break curfew rules to go clubbing.

Alcohol.

It's very cliche, but I didn't really mind. It's a cute movie to spend an afternoon or evening. Don't expect a very strong story. Like I said, it's all very cliche. But it makes you dream... I loved the setting in Tapei. I loved the summer-having-fun-part. I loved the thought of chasing your dreams despite what all others might think.

The dancing and art part was for me also a plus. But that's a personal interest. Some nice dancing shots and seeing some art works makes it for me more interesting to watch.

Don't expect much from the romance... The chemistry between ML and FL wasn't wow, otherwise I would have given a higher rating.

Every young person struggles with the idea of figuring out the rest of their life and knowing who they want to be. This story beautifully brings together elements of connecting with your heritage, romance, figuring out the next steps of your life, the importance of family, being true to yourself, and living in the moment. It sounds like a lot to roll into one movie, but this is an effortless adaptation of the original material.

It's wonderfully cast, doesn't rely on high drama to get its point across, and will take you back to your teen years. The days when you thought you needed to know what the rest of your life was meant to look like and felt pressured by the expectations of your parents, and you really just needed to have someone tell you that it's okay to be yourself and figure it out as you go.

There was wonderful chemistry between the cast, be that romantic or friendship, the backdrop was beautiful, and it did an amazing job showing off the culture of Taipei in a short runtime.

Definitely recommended to anyone who has read the book, fans of Asian drama shows, or anyone who connects with teen and new adult rom coms.