Review | You Are the One film review: modern-day Cinderella story romantic comedy by Patrick Kong stars Carlos Chan, Gladys Li
- A case of mistaken identity that, once resolved, spawns an unlikely love story – that about sums up the storyline of Kong’s latest film, a return to form
- Chan turns in his best performance in years, while Li, in her first leading role, shows she is one to watch
3/5 stars
Since the real-life break-up of his go-to screen couple, Alex Fong Lik-sun and Stephy Tang Lai-yan, who last co-starred in his 2015 film Anniversary , writer-director-producer Patrick Kong Pak-keung has, thankfully, added some welcome diversity to the storylines of his romantic comedies.
There was a time when every film of his was saddled with some elaborate scheme of cheating and enormous cynicism about relationships. After three average films – 2016’s L for Love, L for Lies Too ; 2017’s Never Too late ; and 2018 Lunar New Year offering A Beautiful Moment – Kong has struck the right notes with his latest production.
Typically schizophrenic, You Are the One oscillates between madcap comedy and sentimental romance for its 90-minute duration. It tells the fairy-tale love story of kind working-class girl Bo (Gladys Li Ching-kwan) and callous billionaire Finn (Carlos Chan Ka-lok), a company chief executive.
The first half of this harmlessly diverting film follows the righteous but gullible Bo as she mistakes Finn for the two-timing ex-boyfriend of one of her best pals, now in a coma after a suicide attempt. As Bo and her friends hold Finn captive in the very building to which he has sent thugs to scare away tenants so it can be redeveloped, mildly amusing scenes ensue.
Once the misunderstanding is cleared up, and Finn helps Bo pay off the loan sharks to whom she is indebted thanks to a treacherous former schoolmate, the two fall in love.
When the story picks up six months later, Bo is already living in Finn’s luxurious mansion and the pair’s relationship has noticeably cooled. Complications arise when his business partners express their concerns about Bo’s humble background; these culminate in a request she sign a settlement agreement in case the two break up.
Although Bo has the nominal support of Finn’s judgmental mother (Carrie Ng Ka-lai), he stops trusting Bo and assumes she is just a gold-digger in disguise.
There’s no point guessing what happens next; the pleasure of You Are the One resides mainly in the charisma of its actors. Chan leverages his cocky image to good effect in his most eye-catching role since 2016’s Happiness , while Li’s first leading film role – after supporting roles in 2018’s Big Brother and Adieu – suggest she’s a refreshing new face to watch.
