Review | 77 Heartwarmings movie review: sequel to romcom 77 Heartbreaks finds new and creative ways to underwhelm

The original movie 77 Heartbreaks was bad enough, but the sequel seems to have plumbed new depths

The attempts to add surprises and plot twists fall flat, the characters’ behaviour is bizarre, and there is little or no chemistry

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Charlene Choi (left) and Pakho Chau in a still from 77 Heartwarmings, directed by Herman Yau. Photo: Handout

Published: 2:45pm, 12 May 2021Updated: 7:42pm, 14 May 2021

2/5 stars

The only surprise in the mediocre romcom 77 Heartbreaks (2017) – which recalls the 77 times (or so it claims) an obnoxious man-child disappointed his girlfriend before they break up – is just how utterly irredeemable Pakho Chau’s protagonist is. While a direct sequel showing his elaborate efforts to redeem himself may sound intriguing on paper, 77 Heartwarmings somehow proves even less satisfying than its predecessor.

The movie picks up a year after lawyer Eva (Charlene Choi Cheuk-yin) ended her 10-year relationship with the womanising kick-boxing coach Adam (Chau) – although neither character appears to have gone through much change in the intervening year. Anyway, as Adam finally makes up his mind to win back Eva, the latter accidentally swaps phones with a stranger at Hong Kong International Airport before taking a short trip to the UK.

That stranger turns out to be Marvel (Mario Maurer), a Thai movie star who secretly moonlights as a kitschy urban artist nicknamed “Space-time Invader” (the actual Invader could consider suing). So while Adam is caring for Eva’s suddenly ailing mother (Kara Wai Ying-hung) in hospital, she is hotly pursued by Marvel, who has, incredibly, fallen head over heels in love despite having only met her for brief moments.

A conventional romcom in which Adam and Marvel go on to fight for Eva’s affection should at least make for a diverting watch – and yet director Herman Yau Lai-to and screenwriter Erica Li Man, adapting from her own novel, have very different ideas in mind. Seemingly intent on denying us the simple pleasure of that story, they try hard to add surprises with some very inept twists, and end up falling on their faces.