First of all, I'm not of Chinese heritage. A European American, so I cannot speak to accuracy of Chinese or Chinese-American customs or family life and relations. Having said that, I enjoyed the movie up until it was discovered -- I thought this might be a possibility -- that the mother was still alive and had set up this situation to bring her family back together. And then on to the happy ending.
As script writing, storytelling, it's a cheat. If the first 80 percent of the movie had been farcical, the last part of the movie might have been more acceptable. But the early part of the movie had been relatively serious, with a few moments of humor. Once the mother exposed herself, I thought the initial reactions were legitimate, more honest. I suspect that her children would not have reconciled themselves to their mother so easily, if they ever did. Especially Meimei, who reconciled immediately, but who had been most affected by her mother's dishonesty about her parentage Still, giving the movie a 7/10 for that first 80 percent of the film, which I enjoyed quite a bit.
By the way, just what the hell was Viola's relationship to the mother, the family? Did I miss something? Guess I could watch the movie again.
As script writing, storytelling, it's a cheat. If the first 80 percent of the movie had been farcical, the last part of the movie might have been more acceptable. But the early part of the movie had been relatively serious, with a few moments of humor. Once the mother exposed herself, I thought the initial reactions were legitimate, more honest. I suspect that her children would not have reconciled themselves to their mother so easily, if they ever did. Especially Meimei, who reconciled immediately, but who had been most affected by her mother's dishonesty about her parentage Still, giving the movie a 7/10 for that first 80 percent of the film, which I enjoyed quite a bit.
By the way, just what the hell was Viola's relationship to the mother, the family? Did I miss something? Guess I could watch the movie again.