Review | Film review: See You Tomorrow by Wong Kar-wai – Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro in comedy for the broken-hearted
Co-written by the Hong Kong auteur and directed by Zhang Jiajia from his own short story, this slapstick comedy about doomed romances and breaking up is the pantomime cousin of Wong’s 2046
3.5/5 stars
It is fitting that Wong Kar-wai opted to co-script and produce this slapstick comedy about the broken-hearted as the 25th anniversary presentation of his company Jet Tone: its first production, Jeff Lau Chun-wai’s The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993), was also a slapstick comedy about the broken-hearted.
Tony Leung Chiu-wai plays Chen Mo, owner of See You Tomorrow Bar and purportedly the best “ferryman” there is – a sort of self-styled therapist for people stranded in sorrow after break-up. Still smarting over a doomed romance with bartender He Muzi (Du Juan), Chen is committed to helping out anyone who asks for his service.
The most hilarious storyline sees Chen’s associate, Guan Chun (Takeshi Kaneshiro), go to various extremes to revive the memory of his great love Mao-Mao (Sandrine Pinna), heir of a pan-fried pie business. The eclectic pop culture references thrown in – from Young and Dangerous to the arcade game King of Fighters – work wonders.
Another strand, involving pop singer Ma Li (Eason Chan Yik-shun) and two women – lifelong fan Xiao Yu (Angelababy Yeung Wing) and disgruntled girlfriend Jiang Jie (Lynn Xiong Dailin) – engaging in a booze-filled battle for his affection, is less entertaining, though it does tie in nicely with Wong’s favourite motif of unconsummated romance.
Adapted by first-time director Zhang Jiajia from his own short story, this lushly coloured romantic fable is a bit like the pantomime cousin of Wong’s 2046 (2004), in which a lovelorn Leung also philosophises in frequent voice-over about the fate of those around him. Still, break-ups have rarely looked as comical as they do in See You Tomorrow.
See You Tomorrow opens on December 29
Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook
