Asian Persuasion

With a combination of comedy, feel-good moments, and likable characters (even if they don't always do the right thing :)), Asian Persuasion put a smile on my face. It's an enjoyable experience for people of all kinds, Asian or not, but Asian Americans, in particular, feel seen and heard. Jhett Tolentino's directorial debut is successful in visual story telling and Mike Ang's personal, yet exaggerated and lighthearted writing brings his personal experience to life in a digestible and satisfying way. It's extremely hard not to root for the main cast even in their morally gray endeavors which is a testament to the charisma that comes through the screen. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience.

In Asian Persuasion, directed by Jhett Tolentino, a desperate ex-husband hatches a wildly misguided plan: find a new husband for his successful ex-wife so he can stop paying alimony. The premise alone hints at the film's tone - raunchy, chaotic, and willing to push the boundaries of rom-com absurdity. For the most part, Asian Persuasion captures this energy, blending crude humour with heartfelt moments in a story about love, regret, and the immigrant experience. But while the film has its moments, its uneven execution makes it difficult to fully embrace it.

Mickey de los Santos (Dante Basco), a struggling Queens-based Filipino coffee shop owner, is drowning in financial stress. His alimony payments to his ex-wife, Avery Chua (KC Concepcion), a thriving fashion executive, weigh heavily on him, even as he remains a devoted father to their daughter, Sam (Scarlett Sherr). One night, after getting high with his best friend Caspian Jang (Kevin Kreider), Mickey creates a dating profile for Avery, only to wake up to a flood of matches. What starts as an impulsive, half-baked joke quickly spirals into something more as Caspian encourages Mickey to take advantage of the situation. If Avery remarries, Mickey's financial burdens disappear. And just like that, they embark on a questionable matchmaking mission, whether Avery wants one or not.

This setup lends itself to wild antics, and Asian Persuasion leans into them hard. From Mickey's misguided matchmaking attempts to absurd disguises and mishaps (an artificial leg landing on a Korean BBQ grill is one for the books), gags that range from amusing to downright cringeworthy overwhelm the film. The humour often renders crude - sometimes deliberately so, other times unnecessarily forced, like a scene where Sam asks her grandmother about a 'hand job.' Despite its uneven comedic execution, the film has an undeniable charm.

Lee K. (Paolo Montalban), as a socially awkward financial analyst who unknowingly becomes a pawn in Mickey's plan, best embodies the film. Montalban offers a standout performance, his comedic timing - particularly his physical humour - bringing a surprising depth to what could have been a one-note character. His growing relationship with Avery offers some of the film's best romantic beats, with moments that feel genuinely sweet rather than manufactured for laughs. This is where Asian Persuasion truly works - when it softens its edges and allows for introspection.

Subtle cultural commentary threads through Asian Persuasion, from the struggles of Asian designers fighting against perceptions of cheap labour to Caspian's internalized bias against dating Asian women. The film also authentically portrays first and second-generation immigrant experiences, specifically the weight of expectations, the fear of failure, and the struggle between personal ambition and familial duty. Mickey's reluctance to pursue his culinary dreams, shaped by the pressure of his parents' expectations even from afar, affords the film one of its most sincere confessions.

A warm colour palette enhances this emotional undercurrent, casting New York in soft, inviting hues, highlighting its characters' vibrancy and isolation. Long shots of the park, quiet moments in the city, and the contrast between bustling streets and intimate spaces give the film a lived-in feel, making its more reflective moments feel natural rather than staged. It helps that Asian Persuasion has a small, close-knit cast as their interactions feel effortless. That same warmth carries through the film's instrumental score, which complements its visuals and reinforces its gentler side. When the music is at its most delicate, so is the film.

More than anything, Asian Persuasion thrives when it isn't trying so hard. Its best moments come from the cast's natural chemistry, tender glimpses of love, and thoughtful cultural observations. But its reliance on crude humour and over-the-top gags dulls what could have been a more compelling story of love, regret, and self-discovery. The film certainly has heart but doesn't always know how best to showcase it.

Highlights true New York lifestyle and empowering for women- Cyranoesque in parts while uplifting in the same breath. Develops a fresh approach towards navigating divorce with many comedic moments. Uniquely canvasses the city experience incorporating some very special foodie spots. No spoilers but not your typical romcom. Well casted and made me laugh out loud more than once. Lighthearted yet dissecting on an emotional topic. The bond between male and female friendship is well established via some interesting selection of supportive situations. Most romcoms have a typical plot - not the case here. Looking forward to more from Jhett and Mike.

Romantic comedies have been around forever, so what can any screenwriter or director do that hasn't already been done? Generally, not much is needed because audiences that want to see the "boy meets girl" storyline are already in for a predictable ride. Asian Persuasion does take the genre in some different directions and results in a fairly satisfying experience for fans even though the set up suggests it might be anything but a romantic story.

Dante Basco stars as Mickey who, at the beginning of the film, faces alimony and child support payments to his ex-wife Avery that is more than the small coffee shop owner can handle. Mickey hatches a scheme with his best friend Caspian to set up a dating profile for Avery to get her married off so that he doesn't have to make his payments. This, of course, sounds like a preposterous scheme that could never work until they find an attractive but awkward guy to go along with the plan. It's a big ask but the guy is completely willing AND he quickly falls for Avery. She also falls for him. Improbable right?! Yes, but there is something endearing about some of these characters that keeps the narrative trajectory if not believable than fun to ride along with.

There are a few ridiculous and very silly scenes that attempt to take the comedy in a screwball direction that never really takes flight. One of these includes some silliness with a woman and her seemingly easy to fall off wooden leg. Old time-y physical comedy and somewhat amusing, but the situation feels a bit out of place as the film offers better allusions to earlier works. Examples include homages to Woody Allen's museum scene in Manhattan and the classic romance found in Oscar-winner Casablanca. The soundtrack features a host of independent pop music and a whimsical score reminiscent of that which is used so effectively in Alexander Payne's Election with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon. Screenwriter Mike Ang also borrows and updates the Cyrano/Roxanne plot device by having Mickey feed lines to Avery's suitor via earbuds to help win her over. There are also the usual romantic comedy montages appearing more than once.

The diversity of the cast and creative team behind the film is also worthy of note. Mickey is a Filipino American who casually embraces his roots in his coffee shop and Caspian is a Korean American who dates a woman from Eastern Europe. There's not a lot of other specific cultural references throughout the film but it does suggest that romance (and divorce) in film comedies can be relevant to other communities besides those traditionally marketed to white populations.

While the acting is mostly very good there are a few scenes that could have used a few more takes to make them more convincing. Similarly, while the cinematography is quite good, there are a few darker scenes that needed more color correction as there is noticeable over-emphasis on reds and yellows that throw off the overall balance of the film's look.

Narratively, there are a few flashbacks that arrive unannounced which are to provide a sense of Mickey and Avery's early life together. The problem is that not enough time is spent on why the couple divorced so young. Later there is a plot twist or two that change the direction of the plot into something a bit more traditionally rom com-like but these come rapidly and don't always feel earned.

Still, I think there is an audience for this type of light film which doesn't get made often enough today. One can sit back and enjoy the romantic/comic proceedings and feel pretty good at the end.

This is a cute rom com that put a smile on my face! The cast is fresh and dynamic, especially the little girl that played Avery's daughter. She always had the perfect timing and expression. I loved that it was set in New York City and how everything was so recognizable to me. The director, Jhett Tolentino shows how talented he is, in his directorial debut. He certainly creates beautiful scenes. I'm looking forward to seeing more from him. The cast had a nice chemistry with one another. You can tell they worked well together. It's also refreshing to see so many talented Asian people working on the same film. Kudos to the cast and crew!