Finding Mr. Right
| Finding Mr. Right | |
|---|---|
 Film poster for Finding Mr. Right | |
| Directed by | Xue Xiaolu |
| Written by | Xue Xiaolu |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Tang Wei Wu Xiubo |
| Cinematography | Chan Chi-ying |
| Edited by | Cheung ka-fai |
| Music by | Peter Kam |
Production companies |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 122 minutes |
| Countries | China[1] Hong Kong[1] |
| Languages | Mandarin English |
| Budget | ¥30 million yuan[2] (US$5 million)[3] |
| Box office | ¥518 million yuan (US$84.4 million)[4] |
Finding Mr. Right (simplified Chinese: 北京遇上西雅图; traditional Chinese: 北京遇上西雅圖; pinyin: Běijīng yùshàng Xiyǎtú) is a 2013 romantic comedy film written and directed by Xue Xiaolu.[5] The film was a box-office hit, grossed nearly US$85 million in China.[4] The title translates literally as "Beijing Meets Seattle". The success led to the release of a sequel released in 2016, "Finding Mr. Right 2".
Plot
Wen Jiajia is pregnant with the child of her boyfriend, a tycoon in Beijing who is already married and is under criminal investigation. She flies to Seattle so she can have her child in an illegal maternity center as a way of avoiding scandal. At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport she is picked up by Frank, a taxi driver who was a doctor in China before coming to the United States. Frank came to Seattle because his divorced wife took a job in the city's pharmaceutical industry; Frank moved for the sake of their daughter, Julie. Jiajia recognizes Frank because he once treated her father. Frank tells her that he has divorced his wife.
In the film, Jiajia's boyfriend does not leave his wife, leaving Jiajia on her own. Jiajia eventually begins a romance with Frank.
In the beginning of the film Jiajia tells a customs officer that she likes Sleepless in Seattle. At the end of the film, Jiajia and Frank go to the Empire State Building in Manhattan in a manner similar to what the characters do in Sleepless in Seattle.[6]
Cast
- Tang Wei as Wen Jiajia (C: 文佳佳, P: Wén Jiājiā)
- Wu Xiubo as Hao Zhi (C: 郝 志, P: Hǎo Zhì)/Frank
- Hai Qing (海 清) as Zhou Yi (C: 周 逸, P: Zhōu Yì)/Joe
- Mai Hongmei (买红妹) as Chen Yue(S: 陈 悦, T: 陳 悦, P: Chén Yuè)/Moon
- Elaine Jin as Mrs. Huang (S: 黄太, T: 黃太, P: Huáng-tài) a.k.a. Huang Mali/Mary
- Monica Song (C: 宋美惠, P: Sòng Měihuì) as younger Zhuli (C: 朱利, P: Zhūlì)/Julie, Hao Zhi's daughter
- Jessica Song (C: 宋美漫, P: Sòng Měimàn) 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.[7]
- 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[1]
Production
Except for the opening credits, the entirety of the film was shot in Vancouver.[1] The filming in Vancouver occurred in late 2012.[8]
Release
The film premiered in Hong Kong on February 14, 2013.[1] It had its theatrical release in China on March 21, 2013 and in Hong Kong on March 28, 2013.[1] The film grossed ¥518 million yuan (US$84.4 million) in China.[4]
In November 2013 the film was released in selected United States theaters.[6]
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.[8] Shannon added that the film is "a tolerably cute showcase for Tang Wei".[8] 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."[8]
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."[1]
The film's release caused an increase in Chinese tourism to Seattle. 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.'"[6] Due to the response, CCTV did a New Years' Eve live broadcast from Seattle in 2013,[9] occurring in Kerry Park.[6] The film caused an increase in romantic comedy films made in China.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Elley, Derek (May 5, 2013). "Finding Mr. Right". Film Business Asia. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "《北京遇上西雅图》有望破国产爱情片票房纪录".
- ^ "FINDING MR. RIGHT (CHINESE FILM)". YAM Magazine.
- ^ a b c Kevin Ma (2013-10-24). "China box office up 35% in 2013". Film Business Asia.
- ^ "Tang Wei gets busy". China Daily. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d Lupkin, Sidney (via Good Morning America). "Chinese RomCom 'Finding Mr. Right' Sends Romantics to Seattle." ABC News. January 1, 2014. Retrieved on February 28, 2014.
- ^ Lewis, Nick. "UBC Film student is producer behind China’s 10th-highest grossing film" (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."
- ^ a b c d e Shannon, Jeff. "‘Finding Mr. Right’: Pregnant and predictable in Seattle." Seattle Times. November 7, 2013. Retrieved on February 28, 2014.
- ^ Daily Mail Reporter. "The 'Sleepless In Seattle' effect: Chinese romcom 'Finding Mr. Right' has romantics flocking to the Northwest city." Daily Mail. January 1, 2014. Updated January 2, 2014. Retrieved on February 28, 2014.