Summary
Love in Taipei is an adorable romantic comedy led by a charming turn from Ashley Liao.
Here is our review of the 2023 Paramount+ film Love in Taipei, which does not contain significant spoilers.
The adorable Paramount+ romantic comedy does not reinvent the genre but is too cute to ignore. There’s something honest, joyful, and refreshing about Arvin Chen’s Taiwanese-infused comedy Love in Taipei. Some of that comes from a script virtually free of genre cliche antagonism.
However, most of the credit comes from seeing the story through the wide-eyed performance of the film’s lead.
The story follows a young woman named Ever Wong (Physical‘s Ashley Liao), who is gifted a trip to Taiwan to study Mandarin for acceptance into a pre-med program.
It’s a classic cliché. A young woman has her nose stuck in a book and needs to look up to experience life.
Love in Taipei Review and Plot Summary
However, what separates Love in Taipei is that it combines finding yourself and where you came from. This comes in the form of a new group of friends. Ever meets Sophie (Titans‘s Chelsea Zhang), a free spirit who shows her the ropes of the “Loveboat,” the affectionate term for the retreat.
She’s the cousin of Ever’s childhood crush and the bane of her existence, the “boy wonder” Ricky Woo (Ross Butler).
Of course, you still have the genre cliché staples. Ever wishes to skip medical school for a prestigious New York dance school. Hesitant due to parental expectations, she meets the film’s rebel, Xavier (Nico Hiraga). He is a young man and artist who opens her eyes to happiness that may be off the beaten path.
That’s the setup for this streaming rom-com. As you can guess, two leading male characters appear, occasionally lingering in the shadows during the movie. These guys provide eye candy and adhere to conventional film rules.
They aren’t stalkers; they’re simply being cute. With Ever being a well-defined character, it’s clear whom she will choose and eventually have her heart broken by.
That said, Liao’s performance and the script have undeniable honesty and freshness. Liao’s portrayal of Ever radiates a puppy-eyed wonder that only youth can capture.
Combined with the script, there’s a maturity in discussing the issues of respecting the sacrifices made by their immigrant parents.
Though briefly touched upon, the theme isn’t manipulative and doesn’t veer too far from either side of the argument. Ricky and Ever discuss their sense of obligation and respect toward their parents.
Meanwhile, Xavier and Ever discuss the importance of staying true to themselves.
Love in Taipei does have its flaws. For one, it is relatively predictable, even if enjoyable. Also, the plot of Ever being a dance student is far-fetched.
A simple Google search will reveal that it takes nine years of disciplined dance training to get into a suitable dance school. How Ever hides this from her parents is puzzling and never discussed.
Is Love in Taipei good or bad?
Love in Taipei is a good romantic comedy. This film comes from a fresh perspective and a subtle twist on the genre because of the cultural component that exposes others to something new.
While this is undoubtedly not an immersive experience, the elements are enjoyable.
Is Love in Taipei worth watching?
Love in Taipei is worth watching for the performance of Ashley Liao. Her character is a fish out of water who is a relatable figure to help navigate the story for the viewer.
Liao gives a charming turn that carries you through the picture.
What did you think of the 2023 Paramount+ movie Love in Taipei? Comment below.
