Sheng zhe wei wang

A fair few films these days in Chinese cinema are about the 'shengnu' phenoemon - young women over the age of 25 who are choosing careers over getting married and this is such a film. Sheng Ruxi (Shu Qi) is a successful career orientated lady living in Shanghai who is too busy looking for love, to the frustration of her mother - however - fate lends a hand when the handsome younger Ma Sai (played by Chinese-Canadian actor Eddie Peng - he and Ryan Reynolds could be brothers from another mother) joins the firm - though a tad immature - he is hunky enough to accost the attention of Sheng Ruxi and this is where the merriment begins.

Without going into the predictablity of the film and the ending, I think we are seeing a great cultural change in modern Chinese society where shengnu are leading the forefront to leading the life they want with the people they want - a good thing for Chinese cinema if that is the case. This film explores this dynamic and also does it in such an entertaining way. A solid way to spend your evening and a worthy 7 out of 10 stars.

The chemistry between our two hotties really isn't there and the story takes an unnecessary turn with her mother but, whatever...in the end I guess we get what we hoped for.

But visually...I say more unknown Chinese directors should get a cinematographer from 'In the Mood for Love' on the team because this movie's overall look totally made it a great watching experience. The colors of Shanghai's cityscape glimmer so beautifully through the wide shots of a dark city and nighttime skyscrapers, high-rise moments of Ruxi in her office and apartment are perfect, that certain glow that lingers over Ruxi and Sai's hotel interactions, along with some elegant transitions.

Hollywood has never really stunned me with so much visual treatment for a big-city story of romance.

True, I did sit down to watch this 2015 Chinese romantic movie because Shu Qi was starring in it. But also because it was a movie that I hadn't already seen, so of course as I had the chance in 2021 I jumped at said chance.

And while "The Last Women Standing" (aka "Sheng zhe wei wang") is indeed a very generic and predictable love story as these romantic movies tend to be, there was just something rather unique about this movie from writer and director Luo Luo. And I believe that certain something was a combination of acting performances and the entire atmosphere that permeated the movie.

Sure, much can be said about "The Last Women Standing" being a generic movie, but it worked out quite well, and I will say that for a romantic movie then it was actually above the average sugar-coated romance that seem to be lazing these types of movies.

There was a good chemistry between the two lead performers, that being Shu Qi and Eddie Peng. I can't claim to be familiar with Eddie Peng, but he carried himself quite well. And as for Shu Qi, well she really added a lot of enjoyment to the movie with her performance here, as it was really profound and layers the performance she put on.

If you enjoy Asian romantic movie, then you most certainly should sit down to watch the 2015 movie "The Last Women Standing". My rating of this movie lands on a six out of ten stars.