Be There or Be Square (1998) User Reviews

Simple and satisfying

[elu5iv3 · 7/10 · 4 July 2003]

Bu jian bu san: 7.5/10

The English title for this Chinese movie is "Be There or Be Square". It covers the lives of two Chinese immigants to the USA, how they struggle to fit in the new culture, with more passive violence and the like. The two get separated several times, and it's hard to tell if they'll ever become romantically involved. The movie goes to and from being a comedy, with the man responsible for most comedic parts, but it stays true to the romance theme. This is a simple movie, but the acting of both leads is tremendous and this has the typically patient build of Asian romances, and is in no way predictable. Good stuff.

A good "year-movie"

[fengerzh · 7/10 · 6 April 2000]

I've seen this movie at the new year's day of 1999. Actually it is a quite good funny and happy movie, but of course with lots of shortage. I can't see any reason why the two people begin to love each other, seems only for lonely? Everything is just surface, no deep idea in it. But the screenplay is good, so I give it 7.

Subliminal American stereotypes

[pacdisciple · 8/10 · 24 January 2009]

This is a nice movie but there are a lot of racial undertones in it. Every scene with an "American" depicts them as stupid or violent. It's true that many American films have given little respect to Asian people. It's true that the roles of Asian actors in American films are usually limited to "Chinese delivery boy" and "nerd".

But Bu Jian Bu San seems to serve as a payback for all the injustice done to Asians in American film. It's interesting how the filmmakers pull it off. It's carried out in a way that's culturally Asian; indirect. The subliminal American stereotypes are intricately woven into the story line. One scene, you see the van pull away while the camera fixes its focus on an overweight white woman on a payphone. Another scene, the main characters are talking about how cops in America will shoot you and the girl replies in fear "why?!".

Other than all of this crap, the story is nice.

A humourous, almost realistic romance movie

[FountainGate · 9/10 · 1 April 2002]

This isn't your typical romance movie - it deals with the ups and downs of a romance between two Chinese expatriates living in the USA. Unlike the typical Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan movie, the viewer is left guessing as to whether or not the two lovers will get together. A very touching ending.

Romantic

[kevin142 · 9/10 · 6 June 2005]

Japanese, Korean romantic movies are well known in Asia. My sassy girl (Korea), love letter (Japan) etc. got universal acceptation. But this romantic Chinese movie never loses to them.

Two people falling in love depends on mutual understanding. Appearance is just the secondary thing. LiuYuan finally won LiQing's heart just because of his honesty and kindness though he was not handsome. What LiuYuan dreamed in the airplane was impressive. It just clearly showed how he loved her. To my happy, LiQing finally chose him. In addition to that, the witty words made me laughing from the start to the end.

The director XiaoGang Feng is well known in China. From the end of 90s, his every HeSuiPian (happy new year movie) was popular in China. The newest A World Without Thief also succeeded. As to performance, there are no other pairs can be compared with You Ge and Fan Xu. They are really gold partners. Impeccable.

The most romantic Chinese movie I ever watched. 9/10

Humorous assessment of cultural clashing of East and West

[kungfu-lish84 · 4 November 2004]

This is a very interesting movie. This movie revealed the hardship of the previous generation of Chinese persons immigrating to America and finding no work. It had both humor and irony woven into the plot. It detailed the relationship of a man and woman both struggling in America to make ends meet, and the disillusionment of the "American dream." It used irony and American and Chinese stereotypes. One memorable part is when the man is teaching American police officers Mao-ist sayings to assist the police in arresting citizens that speak only Mandarin. This is a very funny movie, it is even funnier if perceptions of both the East of China and the West of America are understood. I do agree that this may not appeal to the average Westerner, but it greatly appealed to me...Great movie!!!

Don't forget for its direct criticism of corruption

[zzmale · 10/10 · 28 November 2003]

One of the reason this film so popular in China and among oversea Chinese was its direct criticism of the corruption in China, such as misuse of public funds: when the delegation came from China, the first thing was not to do something related to their mission, but to go to strip club to see naked women. This film openly criticized the corruption of this type, and although it might not be much to westerners, it was significant in China.

Reverses the roles - a charming movie

[safenoe · 9/10 · 11 March 2016]

I loved Bu jian bu san, the English title being Be there or be square. Well, I'll be honest. When I first saw it (it was an in-flight movie) I didn't enjoy it. But when I watched it again, I grew to love it. It's a touching romance movie that has its ups and downs and you're never really sure if the couple will get together.

Some reviewers object to the offensive and exaggerated portrayals of American (read white American) cruelty and depravity. Maybe. But let's not forget the American portrayals, offensive and exaggerated portrayals of Asian (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, you name it) culture. Oh well.

A mediocre story that mainly serves as propaganda

[michael_suttles · 3/10 · 14 March 2007]

I'm definitely not what you might call a flag-waving, patriotic American, but this movie managed to offend me on numerous occasions with its exaggerated portrayals of American cruelty and depravity. Nearly every American--with the exception of the LA police (ha!)--is a criminal, pervert, or jerk, and the Chinese main characters are more or less the only sane ones. First, the innocent Beijing girl (Fan Xu) gets robbed and tied to a chair by thugs. Later, she and her friend enter a restaurant which happens to be in the process of being burgled. The mean American criminals in the restaurant single out our Chinese male protagonist (You Ge) because he doesn't have money in his wallet and they pistol whip him. And America isn't just portrayed as full of thugs, but perverts, too. While in the police station, You Ge is pinched on the ass by--horror of horrors!--a transvestite.

I have no problem with the main premise of the movie--namely, that immigration to America is difficult and the picture-perfect society foisted on the world by Hollywood is far from reality. But that doesn't mean that the US is solely made up of criminals and good people are extinct. I have great respect for Chinese culture, but this movie mostly serves to show the "bad side" of America, while holding China up as a symbol of harmony. Don't even get me started on the cheesy love story.

Or maybe I'm wrong, and I just need to spend more time in LA.

a small dose of reality ... one great sensation of mankind.

[sowhat23 · 10 May 2002]

Why have I not heard about this film when it first came out in 1999? Well, I dont' know. One thing I do know, is that, this is everything I had been looking for in a film.

Director and screen-writer Feng, if you see this sir, please contact me?

You have just made number one on my personal hero list. I just came up with one after seeing you film.

I would like the opportunity to learn from you, to see, to hear the things you feel with you sixth sense.

regards