Five Blind Dates

Loving the shift in supporting films like this and even better coming from Australia but there needs to be a better way of telling these stories. The set up whilst a little hokey is fine since it is a rom-com and they are not known for innovation. It's the script is rife with cliches, stereotypes, illogical ideas, stupidity and cartoonish banality. Sydney does look beautiful, it's well shot but the director struggles to elevate above the silliness.

Acting ranges from solid (Yosan An, Tzi Ma,Renee Lim) to odd (Desmond Chiang) to outright awful - lead Shuang Hu is just terrible. The character is also very unlikable - why anyone would want to date her is bizarre.

Again let's support these diverse films but have competent writers and directors handling the material.

This romcom follows a predictable plotline, filled with all-too-familiar clichés and a few cringe-worthy scenes and lines. However, it's still surprisingly entertaining, even though the main leads lack compelling chemistry. Instead, the dynamic between the gay best friend and Lia is far more engaging and might have been a better focus, if not for the film's decision to play it safe.

Despite its flaws, the movie does attempt to add depth by exploring themes like family trauma and the pressure placed on firstborns. The acting is decent, but the film overall lacks the creative spark that could have made it truly memorable. Ultimately, it's a serviceable romcom-pleasant enough for a single viewing, but not something you'd likely revisit.

This movie has potential and it is one that many people will enjoy. There are definitely some fun parts. But it has parts that many will find slow and others too chaotic which is how I found it.

The story may appear to be different but is really very similar to other rom/coms in many ways. Failing business entrepreneur faces family afraid to admit the truth while the family puts intense pressure on her not only professionally but even more so romantically. The plot device of the five blind dates seems unusual but boils down to forcing some awkward date scenes while the obvious choice isn't considered which is similar to many other movies. And there is a problem even there. The obvious choice really isn't obvious. They have so little screen time together and their eventual getting together doesn't make that much sense.

The blind dates have awkward elements, but they aren't all totally lame like many movies do. There is some creativity and fun in the awkward part of each one.

There is some cultural flavor especially as to how tea is used in Chinese traditions. One reviewer was offended at the "racism" where he thought the Chinese people were denigrated. I didn't see it that way and I have been close with several first and second generation Chinese people. The quirks of the main characters were more personal than national or cultural.

Romantic Comedy ' ' Five Blind Dates ' ' is a light, funny movie, that, alas, doesn't deliver.

The movie has its moments, with the tea shop theme and the relationship between the main character and her grandmother being sweet and cute.

However, the rest of the story felt flat and underdeveloped. Especially when it came to the family drama, it was like they knew something that the audience didn't and we were trying to figure it out, while they were sharing an inside joke.

The idea of the movie, moreover, was itneresting though predictable. And, it was nice that they had it set in Australia.

Finally, the performances were decent, the best friend was the best one in the cast!

So, overall, three out of ten.

Five Blind Dates deserves credit for putting a Chinese-Australian woman at the center of a mainstream rom-com - a rarity in Aussie cinema. The cast, especially Shuang Hu and Tzi Ma, deliver warmth and authenticity. Visually, it celebrates culture without exoticizing it, and that alone makes it a step forward.

But strip away the cultural wrapper, and what's left is a very average romantic comedy. The blind dates are formulaic, the emotional arcs predictable, and the script plays it safe. There's little tension, little spark - just a cheerful glide through the genre checklist. You'll smile, but you won't remember it next week.

It's a win for representation, no doubt. But as a film, it needed sharper writing and bolder storytelling. It had the chance to redefine the Aussie rom-com - instead, it politely sits in the middle of the road.