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As Good As It Gets

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Sammi Cheng can be goofy, annoying and sometimes downright charming. In this movie, I suspect she's a bit of all 3.There are times when this movie is downright silly and I'm not entirely sure if that's a great thing or not. Personally, one of most enjoyable scenes of this film is when she sees her former sweetheart at his concert and loses it-- you kind of have to see it to believe it.The big moral to this movie is 1) that looks can be deceiving and 2) don't judge a book by its cover. Sammi's eccentric acting style is nicely balanced by Lau's performance. But there are times when both seem too much for words. In the end, however, a quirkiness runs throughout the film which is its saving grace-- otherwise there were times when it could have turned dangerously unfunny. On the whole, however, it is a definitely an off-beat romantic comedy.

If you're looking for a potential source of wall to wall fat jokes, look elsewhere. This is no Shallow Hal.In terms of plot, it's nothing unexpected. A recently large lady, Mini Mo (Sammi Cheng), pines after her old boyfriend, a classical pianist whose work forced them apart. Lonely and depressed she turns to food.While stranded in Japan, where she has spent all her money following her old boyfriend around the recital circuit, she meets an equally large man, always called Fatso (Andy Lau), a travelling knife salesman. In order to make a sale, he reluctantly takes on the responsibility of caring for her, then genuinely comes to like her. Their growing friendship inspires her to shed the pounds so that she has the courage to meet her old boyfriend, who she hopes will take her back. Mini and Fatso undergo a series of tests to the friendship and gradually fall in love. Because Mini is still theoretically in love with the Pianist, they go on as if nothing is between them, though both know there is definitely something. The novelty is, they are still very large people when this happens.The tension, for all movies in this genre must have tension, is: who will Mini choose? The perfect Ex or this Larger than Life Man who loves her enough to send himself to the poorhouse, and become a human punching bag, so that she can achieve her dreams? This movie just may be Andy Lau's best performance. Hidden under a pretty convincing 300lb fat suit (apart from the rather fake-looking hands), the handsome People's Idol is invisible. With his eyes the only thing recognisable, we get a fully fleshed-out character with insecurities and flaws. Lau seems to relish the opportunity to be less than physically perfect, throwing himself into the role with obvious enjoyment.The equally attractive Sammi Cheng is adorable, even when throwing a tantrum in a parking lot. Her comic timing is spot on, and her facial expressions have to be seen to be believed.Far from perfect, but sweet, tender and funny, it stands up to repeated viewings.

There are occasionally films that take an unoriginal idea, but make the most of it, ending up with a very good movie as a result. Love On A Diet is one of those.Sammi Cheng stars as Mimi, a Hong Kong ex-pat who's living in Japan. She and her boyfriend part company 10 years earlier, during which Mimi puts on some 200 lbs in weight. When her boyfriend arrives back he doesn't recognise her to Mimi's dismay. Meanwhile a travelling salesman by the nickname of 'Fatso' is introduced to her, and helps her slim in order to fulfill a promise she and her then boyfriend made to meet at a location agreed 10 years earlier.In an age of politically correctness and where the American Obese are suing burger chains, the film eeks the idea of insensitivity before anyone even gets to hear the plot. But get beyond prejudicing the film, and you'll find it is a well-written story that isn't really insensitive at all.The overall plot admittedly isn't very original, but it's the originality of the scenes that makes the film wonderful. Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng thrive in their characters and really do put in performances to match. Indeed, it may be one of the best performances I've seen from the two.The special effects are Hollywood, so you'd expect the almost flawless makeup and prosthetics on display. But quite simply everything in the movie adds up to a very fine film. And there are plenty of laughs in the script to enjoy.Love On A Diet sees the reunion of the cast and crew behind Needing You. I didn't think Needing You was great (as my IMDB review shows), but fortunately I hadn't realised that it was the same combination of participants in this, otherwise I might have been prejudiced against this film. Fortunately I say, because I really do think that this film is on the verge of brilliance.One to see, but mind eating too much popcorn.

Love on a Diet is a romantic comedy about a woman who gained 200 lbs and is too ashamed of herself to reunite with her lost love. She meets and takes over the life of another 300 pounder who makes it his mission to get her skinny again so she can reunite with her love. I don't want to give away anything more than that, but once you start watching the film you'll see the plot developments coming a mile away.This is a film that is basically about how fat people are miserable losers and thin people are happy and perfect. Bah... If you are able to look past the anti-fat campaign and all the political incorrectness going on, it's a pretty enjoyable film. Andy Lau turns out a decent performance, but certainly not his best. I often get the feeling that he's disgusted with acting in movies because he always seems to have that sort of attitude. Sammi is great in this film as the fat girl.Technically, this film is nothing new... Fat suits have been around for quite some time. Andy and Sammi are both extremely petite people in real life, but they do a pretty good job of making them look obese. The make-up was good and included every detail - even the fingers were fattened up. Still - not one moment passed where the fact that they were skinny people in fat suits slipped past my notice. It wasn't quite as good as Eddie Murphy's make-up job in The Nutty Professor, but this was also a much tighter budget. I can't knock the job they did here too much though... it was indeed good enough.The comedy was light and I chuckled a few times, but this was not a Stephen Chow film, so I can't expect to be rolling on the floor laughing myself silly. The romance was also light... as I said, the plot development can be seen from a mile away - mostly because you've seen it before. Essentially - this is one of those movies that you would describe as "cute" but probably not "spectacular" or "incredible"... just "cute". It's worth seeing, but you would be ok if you skipped it.It's currently available on VCD and DVD from HK (fairly cheap too I should add). The DVD includes a Making-Of featurette and Trailers. The VCD is one of the best I've seen in terms of transfer quality and sound. Although, the prices only differ by 3 or 4 US dollars so it might not be such a big deal for someone to spring for the DVD unless they are on a budget (in which case, the VCD is very nice).I'd rate this film 6/10 or thereabouts. I wasn't all that impressed with anything from the movie, but it was decent and worth my time to watch.