Summary
A sweet but easily forgettable film that lacks comedy and romance.
If you think Five Blind Dates might be the next Crazy Rich Asians, think again. Despite a promising cast and premise, the film lacks comedy and relatable, believable romance. Instead, it is a nice nod to culture, heritage, and family values.
While it might not be the hit rom-com to watch this Valentine’s, Five Blind Dates is still an easy, inoffensive way to spend your time.
Chinese-born Shuang Hu co-writes and stars as Lia, a young Asian woman living in Sydney whose traditional tea shop is as successful as her love life… failing miserably with no direction or drive.
After a fortune teller tells Lia of a prophecy that she will meet her soulmate in the next five dates, Lia’s life is not the same. Not only will she not have to attend her sister’s wedding alone, but this mystery man will also help save her family’s failing tea shop and grandmother’s legacy.
The premise of having to find a soulmate in five dates two months before her sister’s wedding is strong — the script just doesn’t hold up. The film is full of stereotypes we’ve all seen before, gay best friend and makeover montage included.
Luckily the runtime is short at under 90 minutes, but I didn’t laugh once. I smirked a few times, but I was waiting for funnier things to happen. Sometimes the acting was great, but other times the comedic timing was off and awkward, making the story very easy to disengage from.
Lia’s character isn’t the most compelling and charming; there are times she seems desperate, and then as if she couldn’t care less, so her intentions are hard to decipher and understand. Her best friend Mason (Ilai Swindells) is easily the most likable character, stealing his scenes, and I wanted more involvement from him.
What the film lacks in its comedy it makes up for with cultural observations and appreciation, from Sydneysiders who are more interested in Taiwanese bubble tea than authentic tea, to Chinese traditions and practices.
With a predictable ending, the film offers nothing new to the genre, but why invent the wheel? Sometimes there is fun in the familiar, but not here; everything falls flat.
Romance and fun-free, Five Blind Dates is easy but boring to watch. This is the first feature film produced locally in Australia by Prime Video and maybe should be the last.
But I’m being mean. The film does have sweet scenes and emotional ties when it comes to soul-searching and family ties. It might inspire you to keep following your dreams and not give up when times are hard.
