Shanghai Kiss (2007)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Directors:

Kern Konwiser
David Ren

Writer:

David Ren (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Love needs no translation.

Plot:

An Asian-American actor, living in Los Angeles, is forced to reconsider his roots as well as the possibilities afforded him by his present situation after suddenly inheriting his grandmother's home in Shanghai.

Plot Keywords:

Shanghai | Actor | China | Female Nudity | Nudity

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Ken Leung	...	Liam Liu
Hayden Panettiere	...	Adelaide Bourbon
Kelly Hu	...	Micki Yang
Joel Moore	...	Joe Silverman
James Hong	...	Mark Liu
Kathleen Lancaster	...	Georgia
Lorna Scott	...	Casting Director
Spencer Redford	...	Jessica / Cute Blonde
Steve Connell	...	Casting Director (voice)
Brian Gardner	...	Young Handsome Guy
Timothy Bottoms	...	Adelaide's Father
Summer Altice	...	Virginia
Oliver Yan	...	Ling Ming
Byron Mann	...	Jai Li
Chen Li	...	Amy

Also Known As:

The Shanghai Kid (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

106 min | Argentina:100 min | Germany:100 min (European Film Market) | Turkey:91 min (TV version)

Country:

USA | China | Hong Kong

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:13 | USA:Not Rated | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bigfoot Entertainment

Trivia:

In the scene where Liam and Micki are watching a movie, Liam mentions how The Rock sounds like Richard Simmons and Micki asks 'Who is the Rock?'. Kelly Hu starred in The Scorpion King (2002) with Dwayne Johnson (The Rock).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Joel returns to the table he is clearly seen holding a single serving butter pack in his left hand as he sits down, but as we switch to a different camera angle, he is holding a fork.

Quotes:

Joe Silverman: Listen to yourself, man! You're moving to Shanghai for a girl! A *Chinese* girl for Godsakes!
Liam Liu: This is not just about the girl.
Joe Silverman: Then what is it?
Liam Liu: It just -- it *feels* right! I'm Chinese. I gotta go back to my roots.
Joe Silverman: [scoffs] All right, slow down, Kunta Kinte. You don't even speak Chinese. What the hell are you gonna do? What, drive a rickshaw?
Liam Liu: I can learn Chinese.
Joe Silverman: Learn Chinese?! Liam, you barely speak English!
Liam Liu: Don't call me Liam. Liam's my slave name.
Joe Silverman: Cute.

Movie Connections:

References Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Soundtrack:

Home

Garden State but better

WOW, you gotta see this movie. It has a non-stereotypical Chinese male lead, which is totally rare in Hollywood films. It's a drama that has some comedic moments. It's about this 28 year old Chinese American (this part same as me) living in LA struggling with his acting career and how an opportunity to leave his normal confine changed his outlook on life and his relationship with his father and others. There is the childhood mother accident and the resulting blaming game. There is the overly positive (polar opposite of main character) girl. I know, the overall storyline is almost exactly like Garden State but the detail experiences are completely different. I actually like it a lot more than Garden State. There are less drug use and weird stuff, instead, it has more real life problems and emotions. I don't mind the former, I like Garden State too but the latter just makes you feel so much closer to the characters.

I love the scenes in Shanghai. I really want to go there now. LOL. I wonder if Hayden got the opportunity to visit while shooting the movie. BTW, all the actors were amazing (even the potential house buyer couple). The main actors displayed all range of emotions very convincingly.

I have to admit, I saw an illegal copy of the movie. But I liked it so much that not only am I going to purchase a legit DVD for myself, I'm going to buy a few to give them to my friends. It's unfortunate there is not enough promotion for it so I'm going to help spread the words myself.