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Ning Hao's new 'pink comedy' departs from the black humor that has defined his career. Wang Kaihao places the film in the debate surrounding low-budget comedies' success.
Ning Hao shows a new hue with his latest film Breakup Buddies.
The 37-year-old director, who's nicknamed "China's Guy Ritchie" for his black comedies, such as last year's No Man's Land, shows a different shade of his artistic palette with what he calls his first "pink comedy".
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Chinese director Ning Hao continues his exploration in comedy films in his latest production, Breakup Buddies. Provided to China Daily |
The road trip romance will be released on Sept 30.
The film features his longtime partners, comedians Huang Bo and Xu Zheng, who also appeared in No Man's Land.
The duo travel across southern China, hunting for hot women and one-night stands. They instead find the meaning of love.
The narratives aren't overly complex, and the scenery is stunning.
Referring to his "pink comedy" concept, Ning says: "My comedies also need color. It's not easy for me to put so many actresses in one movie. Why not create something eye-catching?"
Ning doesn't automatically focus on big names. Some actresses are former extras who've never had a line in a film.
"(But) they're the characters I want," Ning says.
Xu believes the film is likely an exception, rather than a new rule, in Ning's legacy.
"He'll return to his previous path," Xu says.
Huang, who became a star after appearing in Ning's 2006 low-budget comedy Crazy Stone, points out: "Ning's films show various tastes."
China's film market has been shaken up by the emergence of unexpected comedies and comedic stars.
The industry was stunned when Xu's directoral debut Lost in Thailand, which also featured Huang, became 2012's highest-grossing domestic film at the Chinese box office, raking in 1.3 billion yuan ($210 million).
And The Breakup Guru, which was screened in June, took in nearly 700 million yuan, despite boos from many critics.
"It's too early to say Chinese audiences are over special effects blockbusters," Tsinghua University associate professor of communications Zhao Shuguang says.
"But low-budget comedies' box office wins show people have in the past year or two come to prefer stories closer to daily life. In the end, movies remain entertainment for the general public."
Such successes have perhaps given producers higher expectations for Breakup Buddies. More than 1 million presale tickets had been sold by Monday. The online sales site Meituan.com predicts presale earnings will grow up to 100 million yuan before the official release.
Imax, which usually focuses on special-effects flicks, broke stride by cooperating on the film.
"Imax belongs to a wider range outside the Hollywood blockbusters of fine visual effects," Imax China CEO Chen Jiande explains.
"We also serve those young moviemakers who have passion for creativity. This movie is one of our first trials in Chinese film and is only a start."
But one viewer stood up to ask the director after the premiere: "Why did you choose such a huge screen? It's a 2-D comedy. I feel a bit dizzy."
Awkwardness ensued. Nobody would answer. Some suspect higher ticket prices are the reason.
Then again, the industry exists to make money.
Beijing Film Academy professor Chen Shan tells China News Weekly: "Comedies have become a fad in China because they're lucrative. The market isn't mature. The box office results don't guarantee quality. Their popularity merely shows people want something fun to relieve pressure."
But some industry analysts like Yang Jinsong, director of Alibaba Pictures, who has seen Breakup Buddies, believe such comedies are deeper than critics give them credit for.
"These high-grossing films reveal morality through satire," Yang says.
"For example, when Ning Hao exaggerates the portrayals of men pursuing one-night stands, he's actually demonstrating his judgment against such behavior."
Ultimately, audiences will decide on what the popularity of such films means for society and the industry. And it seems likely Breakup Buddies and comparable comedies that follow will draw large audiences who'll ultimately serve as jurors.
Contact the writer at wang kaihao@chinadaily.com.cn
