Shanghai Kiss
2007
An out-of-work Chinese American actor involved with a high school girl learns that he has inherited his grandmother's home in Shanghai, China. He moves to the exotic city to connect with his ancestry and start a new life, but must leave behind the only girl who has ever loved him. Liam (Ken Leung) is a struggling actor .. Read more
| Starring | Ken Leung, Hayden Panettiere, Kelly Hu, Joel Moore |
|---|---|
| Director | Kern Konwiser, David Ren |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Shanghai Kiss
An out-of-work Chinese American actor involved with a high school girl learns that he has inherited his grandmother's home in Shanghai, China. He moves to the exotic city to connect with his ancestry and start a new life, but must leave behind the only girl who has ever loved him.
Liam (Ken Leung) is a struggling actor wasting his time picking up on beautiful, plastic girls in hip Hollywood bars with his buddy, Joe (Joel David Moore), a writer who hasn't written a damn thing. The closest thing to an emotional connection in Liam's life is a flirtatious friendship with 16 year old Adelaide (Hayden Panettiere), a precocious high school girl who is actually more mature than Liam.
When Liam learns he has inherited his grandmother's home in Shanghai, China, he travels to the bright and beautiful city and discovers a profound connection to his family legacy. Liam meets a sophisticated Chinese woman named Micki (Kelly Hu) and finds himself falling into instant infatuation with her. Liam decides to move to China, leaving behind Adelaide who is quite possibly the only girl who has ever loved him, but running away from his problems only lands him in deeper trouble.
| Starring | Ken Leung, Hayden Panettiere, Kelly Hu, Joel Moore, Oliver Yan, James Hong, Byron Mann, Spencer Redford, Summer Altice |
|---|---|
| Director | Kern Konwiser, David Ren |
| Studio | ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 46 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 28 Jul 2008 Production year: 2007 |
| Format | DVD |
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Most helpful member's review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Good enough
Interesting film that carries your attention and addresses the often untackled theme of 2nd generation children and their relationship with their parents home country/town, (obviously from only one person's vantage point).
Still, I was left a little uncomfortable with the age gap between the older man and the 16 year old girl, although it is sensitively handled and not sexualised. I was left wondering why anyone would choose that as a subject matter, when they could have made her a few years older and retained the age gap and story. Watching the extra's on the DVD reveals that it is semi-autobiographical which explains it. There is nothing wrong with it and the relationship develops very innocently. Still if you know you are likely to feel sensitively about this issue, its probably not the film for you. Otherwise, its an interesting look at the boundaries of romantic love.
Also a beautiful insight into modern China (albeit a necessarily limited one), culture clashes, cultural identity, family issues, friendship and romantic love. A brave film that does not have the laboured feeling it might have for a small budget film with a different direction.
Worth seeing if you are happy to watch less mainstream films and willing to think critically about the issues raised. Still something leaves me thinking it could have been better, which seems a shame, maybe its just because of my discomfort at the above or maybe its something more.... -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Run of the mill rom com!
A somewhat unconvincing love story of a younger girl and an older bloke in his late twenties or thirties. A tad far fetched, but watchable.
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Shanghai Kiss
An out-of-work Chinese American actor involved with a high school girl learns that he has inherited his grandmother's home in Shanghai, China. He moves to the exotic city to connect with his ancestry and start a new life, but must leave behind the only girl who has ever loved him.
Liam (...
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