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Finding Mr. Right
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Wikipedia article
'Finding Mr. Right' is a 2013 romantic comedy film written and directed by Xue Xiaolu. The film was a box-office hit, grossed nearly US$85 million in China. The title translates literally as "Beijing Meets Seattle". A sequel was released in 2016, 'Finding Mr. Right 2'.
Plot
Wen Jiajia is pregnant with the child of her boyfriend, a corrupt businessman in Beijing who is already married. She flies to Seattle so she can have her child in an illegal maternity center because of legal issues with giving birth to the baby in China. At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport she is picked up by Frank, a taxi driver who was a doctor in China, but came to Seattle in order to take care of his daughter, while his ex-wife, who works as a manager for a pharmaceutical company, has plans to immigrate to the United States. Later on Jiajia, listening to Frank's story, remembers the time when her father had a heart problem and recognizes him as a famous cardiologist. Off to a rocky start, she will gradually grow closer to Frank, his daughter and the women in the maternity center.
Jiajia's boyfriend is involved in a lawsuit and his assets are frozen, so she has to live without his money. She and Frank gradually become closer, developing feelings for each other. However, they go their separate ways when her boyfriend, after getting out of the lawsuit and leaving his wife, sends his driver to bring Jiajia and the baby back to China. The relationship doesn't work: her life is filled with luxury, but also lacking the care and affection she experienced with Frank, who she finds herself thinking back to. Realizing she doesn't love her boyfriend, she breaks up with him and starts a cooking website to earn the money to take care of herself and the baby, while her ex, who has no intention of supporting them, ends up going back to his wife. In the meantime, Frank puts his life back together and eventually starts working as a doctor again. Two years after parting, Frank and his daughter take a photo on top of the Empire State Building and send it to Jiajia, who replies with a photo of her and her son. Realizing they are in the same place, they meet on top of the Empire State building a la 'Sleepless in Seattle' and join hands, beginning a relationship.
Cast
* Tang Wei as Wen Jiajia
* Wu Xiubo as Hao Zhi /Frank
* Hai Qing as Zhou Yi /Joe
* as Chen Yue /Moon
* Elaine Jin as Mrs. Huang a.k.a. Huang Mali/Mary
* Monica Song as younger Zhuli /Julie, Hao Zhi's daughter
* Jessica Song as older Julie
** Jessica and Monica Song, the actresses for Julie, were 12-year-old twins from Richmond, British Columbia. They were auditioned by Judy Lee, the casting director, and tutored by Michael Bean, a talent coach.Lewis, Nick. "[http://wire.arts.ubc.ca/featured/ubc-film-student-is-producer-behind-chinas-10th-highest-grossing-film/ UBC Film student is producer behind Chinas 10th-highest grossing film]" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6OYMBRNqO Archive]). artsWIRE, University of British Columbia. Retrieved on April 3, 2014. "After expansive casting sessions across Canada, in Los Angeles and New York, we discussed and decided together to take a chance on 12-year-old Jessica and Monica Song of Richmond, suggested by our friends at Fairchild Television and auditioned by our casting director, Judy Lee. Thanks to some intensive tutoring by local talent coach Michael Bean, they charmed their way to the big screen. The twins were in China for the release, had a great time and became instant press darlings."
* Theresa Lee as Dr. Tang
* Liu Yiwei as voice of Zhong
* Alex Dafoe as a doctor
* Clayton Chitty as Club Guy
* Michael Denis as Jose
Production
Except for the opening credits, the entirety of the film was shot in Vancouver. The filming in Vancouver occurred in late 2012.Shannon, Jeff. "[http://seattletimes.com/html/entertainment/2022211265_findingmrrightxml.html Finding Mr. Right: Pregnant and predictable in Seattle]." 'Seattle Times'. November 7, 2013. Retrieved on February 28, 2014.
Release
The film premiered in Hong Kong on February 14, 2013. It had its theatrical release in China on March 21, 2013 and in Hong Kong on March 28, 2013. The film grossed 518 million yuan (US$84.4 million) in China.
In November 2013 the film was released in selected United States theaters.Lupkin, Sidney (via Good Morning America). "[https://abcnews.go.com/Health/chinese-romcom-finding-mr-sends-tourists-seattle/story?id=21390987 Chinese RomCom 'Finding Mr. Right' Sends Romantics to Seattle]." 'ABC News'. January 1, 2014. Retrieved on February 28, 2014.
Reception
Jeff Shannon of the 'Seattle Times' gave the film two stars out of four. Shannon wrote that the film is "blandly generic and predictable from the get-go", has a "boring" English title and that it has a "never less than obvious" setup. Shannon added that the film is "a tolerably cute showcase for Tang Wei". According to Shannon, Seattle "gets the rainy-glossy, picture-postcard treatment" and that the film "does touch upon the notion of Seattle (and the U.S.) as a sensible escape from the garish materialism of Beijing and Hong Kong."
Derek Elley of 'Film Business Asia' gave the film a six out of ten rating, referring to it as an "Okay but unspecial rom-com is driven more by technique than its script or lead chemistry."
The film's release caused an increase in Chinese tourism to Seattle, despite the entire movie being filmed in Vancouver, BC. Janet Christopher, the vice president of the tourism department of "Visit Seattle", stated "The phones started ringing and it hasn't stopped. We have been amazed at the response. This is bigger than 'Sleepless in Seattle.'" Due to the response, CCTV did a New Year's Eve live broadcast from Seattle in 2013, occurring in Kerry Park. The film caused an increase in romantic comedy films made in China.
References
Category:Chinese romantic drama films
Category:Hong Kong romantic drama films
Category:2013 films
Category:Films set in Beijing
Category:Films set in Seattle
Category:Films shot in Vancouver
Category:Films directed by Xue Xiaolu
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