Ji ri qi cheng

"Set Off" (aka "Ji ri qi cheng") started off as being interesting and it definitely had potential to be a good comedy from writers Muchun Cha and Li Wang. So I believed that I was in for a treat here with this 2008 crime comedy from director Jiang Liu.

And while "Set Off" was off to an entertaining and enjoyable start, the movie lost its momentum almost entirely about halfway through, and at that point onwards the movie just settled into a very monotonous pace where very little fun stuff happened really. It felt sort of like the movie shed its comedy skin and turned into an almost full-fledged crime movie.

I wasn't familiar with the cast in this 2008 movie, but I will say that Wei Fan (playing Lao Cui) and Wenpei Ju (playing Xiao Xia) definitely put on good enough performances and carried the movie. It was just a shame that they were restricted in their performances, given the limitations of the mundane script.

For a crime comedy then "Set Off" just fell short and veered completely off course. I think it was a shame, because the movie definitely started off quite nicely. If you enjoy Chinese comedies, then there are far better choices readily available out there.

My rating of "Set Off" settles on a mediocre five out of ten stars. This is hardly a movie that I will recommend you rushing out to get a hold of, much less actually sitting down to watch - unless you are a fan of someone on the cast list or something.

The movie tells the story of a honest and caring overseas Chinese Lao Cui who has just returned to china to finalize his divorce with his ex wife with whom he was trying to settle in Cyprus where he runs a small restaurant but even after working so hard he was never been able to afford the place forget about bringing his wife over there and during his frequent trips between his hometown and Cyprus increased his marital problems and his marriage comes to an end.

Movie begins when he comes to china.The moment he lands in China his problems starts, first his wife lefts him in front of his eyes which another man. With breaks his heart and suddenly he receives the news of his shop being sold to some other competitor in Cyprus if he does not reach back there and make a timely paperwork or payment to the actual owner. So he has to rush back to Cyprus asap after finalizing his papers for divorce. He meets with his old friend who is a small time actor who happens to be well connected with directors and star casts given his somehow less known movie appearances. Both guys talk and departs and Cui decides to head back to the airport so that he can catch the return flight to Cyprus and hires a taxi but before jumping into taxi a half drunk girl comes from behind and puts a knife on his throat and threatens the taxi drives to take her somewhere safe so that she can avoid the two men who are pursuing her for something which is of worth something; but the taxi driver refuses so Cui being a nice guy ask the taxi driver to do so. He drops the girl at her apartment but she accidentally leaves him outside and fell asleep. And then things starts to take unexpected turns when after dropping the girl at home he is left outside with all of his luggage left inside the apartment of this girl Xia.

So the things happen after that makes you laugh like hell and also enjoy the bittersweet moments arising out of unusual situations.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The script was tight and swift so i didn't feel bored. Humor factor was also in plenty there more of situational though but a genuine one. Acting was smooth and convincing...all the characters did their part well so no complaint here. Story also was simple yet grasping so overall the movie is a fun to watch despite its small star cast it is one of the best Chinese comedy movie i have seen in recent years. Highly recommended!! My rating 7.5/10

An unlikely pair, a duo of individuals that don't seem to have anything in common. And yet despite (or because?) of that, they are a perfect team (to watch) - mostly fail. Having said all that, the main individuals in this are quite something to behold.

There is some action, but it is mostly comedy and silly one at that. The characters hold it together, which isn't that easy considering some very tough and hard choices that are being made and some really not smart moves which may annoy some viewers (understandably). If you can let that slide, you will be able to be entertained by the movie