Don't Go Breaking My Heart

Johnnie To

The story: Suzhou native Cheng Zixin (Gao Yuanyuan) is working in Hong Kong as a financial analyst. Her boyfriend of seven years dumps her, but she soon finds herself enjoying the attention of two men – financial hotshot Sean Cheung (Louis Koo) and award-winning architect Kevin Fong (Daniel Wu).

Film-maker Johnnie To is better known for his violent crime thrillers such as Election (2005), but romantic comedies are not exactly unexplored terrain for the man.

Without a strong gimmick as anchor, though – say Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng in fat suits in Love On A Diet (2001) – this offering, directed together with Wai Ka Fai, feels scattershot and adrift.

Sure, the cast is easy on the eye. The doe-eyed, fresh-faced China actress Gao reminds one of the pretty Gigi Leung, while Louis Koo and Daniel Wu are no slouches in the looks department, either.

Unfortunately, one is never quite sure why the two men are so besotted with her.

The relationship between Zixin and Sean starts off cute as they work in glass buildings facing each other, and they start to flirt using paper cut-outs and written messages. Inexplicably, he proceeds to stand her up after arranging a first date.

At the same time, she strikes up a friendship with Kevin, who looks like a homeless bum when we first see him but turns out to be a top architect who has lost his way because of alcohol.

These unlikely plot developments never feel plausible because of the ham-fisted script and the hammy acting, particularly from Koo.

Fast forward three years later and Sean is now Zixin’s boss. His idea of courtship seems to be to abuse his position by ordering her around and then trying to buy her affections with expensive gifts. It smacks of harassment, not endearment, and yet she is drawn to this capricious and insensitive man.

Meanwhile, who should move into Sean’s old office but a rejuvenated Kevin, who is still holding a torch for Zixin?

So now the film-makers are juggling two unconvincing relationships and striking one false note after another.

In the final showdown, it feels like Sean and Kevin are simply competing to see who can come up with the grander and more over-the-top declaration of love.

Modern-day romance has seldom seemed so dire.

(ST)