Feel It Say It.... (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All

Eric Kot is Zmon Heung, a dedicated dermatologist whose main goal in life is to insure that people in Hong Kong have fully-functioning equipment. His skin care clinic caters almost exclusively to those who possess sexually-transmitted diseases, and is even located in a remote region to enhance his customer's privacy. Aiding him is Ma Hiu-Yeung (Candy Lo), his workaholic assistant who cares for the daily operation of the clinic, as well as some portions of the doctor's personal life. Zmon is seeing Fei Fei (Tiffany Lee), a buxom model who may be more than he can handle. The film is barely 15 minutes old when it's discovered that Fei Fei has a sweaty attraction to stuttering masseuse To Bing (Anson Leung), who just so happens to be Ma's boyfriend.

Not surprisingly, To Bing returns Fei Fei's affection and the two are soon locking lips and hips. Meanwhile, Zmon and Ma continue to cure the VD-afflicted, all the while not realizing that A) they both are wearing green hats, and B) they are truly meant for one another. When the two finally catch on that their other halves may be seeing one another, they stake out To Bing's apartment until they get some official confirmation. In the meantime, they also do role-play, running through the myriad emotions that a person feels when they suspect that their boyfriend/girlfriend may be snacking on the side. When they discover that their suspicions are confirmed, role-play becomes reality. Luckily they still have the clinic -- and more importantly, each other.

Feel It Say It... earns points with its minor, if not too postmodern look at the uncertainties of finding one's better half. The eventual courtship of the lead characters is subtly affecting in that the moments experienced are quiet. Nobody chases anybody down in the street to announce their undying love. Everything here is done tentatively, and Candy Lo and Eric Kot seem genuine in their sometimes awkward emotions. The romance between Anson Leung and Tiffany Lee is played a bit more overtly, pushing for as many sweaty clinches as the tame IIA rating can muster. It's also completely dropped three-quarters into the film, which is unexpected, though not really unwelcome. Closure and teary confrontations seldom happen in real life; by eschewing the obvious, Feel It Say It... ends up feeling more genuine.

However, the romances are only a portion of the film. The rest is a mismatched PSA for the importance of getting your equipment checked once in a while. A parade of Hong Kong B-listers -- including Sam Lee, Chin Kar-Lok, Jerry Lamb, and Emily Kwan --show up flaunting their sexual dysfunction or newly-acquired venereal diseases. The moments can be uneven, as they're sometimes accompanied by commentary that breaks the fourth wall, overt lecturing on possible infections, and even an awkward musical number. We also get visual illustrations of fetishes, sex appeal, and Japanese people who like to cheat on one another. The anti-VD sequences vary in effectiveness and entertainment value. It's great to watch Sam Lee and Jerry Lamb admit to having VD, but does it really jibe with the rest of the film? It's hard to say. Given the extended romantic plotline AND the abundance of sex-ed lessons, Feel It Say It... almost feels like two movies zipped into one.

But this isn't some vaunted Peter Chan or Wong Kar-Wai film that we're looking at. Feel It Say It... is small stuff, and doesn't aspire to much more than a quiet combo of pleasing romance and public service announcement. With that in mind, the film is a minor success. Director Bennie Chan (not to be confused with Benny Chan, director of Gen-X Cops) creates identifiable emotions, the rural location is charming, and Eric Kot and Candy Lo are exceptionally likable. Neither actors carry anything resembling star baggage and seem like average, amiable people that one would probably be glad to know. The two form a believable couple, and their pursuit of a mature relationship is refreshing in its low-key charm. That right there is enough to make Feel It Say It... better than the popstar-fueled crap the industry churns out. The fact that it doesn't star a Cookie is an extra bonus.

by Kozo - LoveHKFilm.com