Aspiring singer "defies his parents' wishes for him to work at the family business and instead goes to work as a tour guide at his girlfriend's agency." That is quoted from the IMDb plot summary of Elvis's Blue Hawaii, and it is the exact plot of this movie as well. Also included is the surly spoiled teen girl trouble-maker suddenly flinging herself at the protagonist and sneering at everyone else's fun. I don't remember if Blue Hawaii had a farcical bar brawl in a wildly unconvincing night club set, but you get one here. The difference between the two films is that this starts in Singapore and follows a driving route to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and Penang Island. It's mild, harmless entertainment, brightly colorful, and while the songs may seem rather poor to western ears they are mercifully brief. Admirers of '60s modern furnishings will find the interiors droolworthy indeed, and the various tourist locales - museums, mosques, temples (including the world's third largest reclining Buddha!) and scenic viewpoints are something you are unlikely to see in any other film. So, kinda interesting, kinda fun, and a pleasant way to fill an evening.
Review of Ye lin chun lian
