Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2
| Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2 | |
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 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Johnnie To |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | Louis Koo Gao Yuanyuan Miriam Yeung Vic Chou Daniel Wu |
| Cinematography | To Hung Mo[1] |
| Edited by | David Richardson[1] |
| Music by | Hal Foxton Beckett[1] |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Media Asia Distribution |
Release dates |
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Running time | 113 minutes[1] |
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| Box office | US$31.63 million[2] |
Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2 is a 2014 Hong Kong-Chinese romantic comedy film directed by Johnnie To. A sequel to the 2011 film Don't Go Breaking My Heart, it stars returning cast members Louis Koo, Gao Yuanyuan and Daniel Wu alongside new cast members Vic Chou and Miriam Yeung. It has been screened at the Special Presentations section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. It was released in China on 11 November and in Hong Kong on 13 November 2014.
Cast
- Louis Koo as Sean Cheung (張申然)
- Gao Yuanyuan as Ching Chi Yan
- Miriam Yeung
- Vic Chou
- Lam Suet as John
- Daniel Wu
Production
Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2 was written by Wai Ka-fai and Ryker Chan and Yu Xi. Yu Xi had previously joined To’s on his films Blind Detective and Drug War as a screenwriter.[1]
Release
Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2 was shown at the Toronto Film Festival on 9 September 2014.[1] The film was released on 11 November 2014 in China, which is Singles Day.[1][3] The film earned RMB42.1 million (US$6.88 million) from approximately 1.32 million admissions on 11 November making it the best opening gross for a film directed by Johnnie To in Mainland China.[3]
Reception
Variety gave the film a mixed review, comparing the film to the first, stating that "much like the first time, the results are as cheerfully silly as they are compulsively watchable, despite the somewhat disappointing decision to keep one of the series’ most appealing stars (Daniel Wu) sidelined on the mainland for much of the running time." and that director Johnnie To " undisputed master of the modern Hong Kong gangster drama, turns his attention to lighter fare (like this, or 2012’s sudser "Romancing in Thin Air"), it’s like watching a great baseball pitcher warming up in the bullpen: perfect form and follow-through minus any real sizzle."[1]
The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a negative review, stating that the "Chinese dreams of love, wealth and sex make this rom-com reboot look very much like a calculated piggy-bank stuffer."[4] Slant Magazine gave the film a negative review, calling it "the worst film To has made since founding his independent studio Milkyway."[5] Slant opined that "this sequel jumbles the stakes and loses its drive, not least because, while Shen-ren still pines for Zixin, Qihong toils away on the mainland completely divorced from the story."[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Foundas, Scott (10 September 2014). "Toronto Film Review: 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2′". Variety. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ^ "Weekly box office 24/11/2014 - 30/11/2014". english.entgroup.cn. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ a b Ma, Kevin (13 November 2014). "Johnnie To breaks hearts on Singles' Day". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ Young, Deborah (10 September 2014). "'Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2': Toronto Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Toronto Film Review: Pasolini, Tales, & Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2". Slant Magazine. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.