MAI Review (2024): Phuong Anh Dao is Fantastic in Overdramatic Movie

– No Spoilers –

Mai, in hopes of leaving her past behind and starting afresh, moves into an apartment building and starts working as a masseuse. However, her life turns upside down when she befriends her playboy neighbour and before long, her past catches up to her.

There is something very genuine about MAI that really gets to you. In spite of the cliched story, there’s an innocence and hope in Mai’s story that really gets to you a few minutes into her acquaintance with Duong. We see Mai overcoming the obstacles in her life to slowly let her playboy neighbour into her life and it’s apparent that the two of them share a rare bond that is not of the normal kind. The first half of this movie is so sweet that it’s difficult not to fall for its charms, in spite of the crappiness of Mai’s life at first.

In spite of the patriarchy, the dirty looks from the men around her and how society looks at her profession, Mai and Duong fight on. However, it’s more of Mai’s fight than anything else, and Phuong Anh Dao portrays her so beautifully that you can’t help but feel everything that Mai is feeling. She is so genuine in her every reaction that when the other shoe finally drops for her, the overwhelming sense of heartbreak simply takes you over. Plus, her relationship and chemistry with Tran Thanh is absolutely on-point and regardless of whatever happens in the movie, their relationship seems genuine because of how well they portray it.

The problems showcased in this movie are really relatable and backed with emotion. The perils of being a woman are not lost on viewers and although the male gaze is STRONG, there are moments when things feel possible for Mai and for us as well. I will admit that the movie is more frilly and leans more towards the drama than delivering something with more heart, drama and character arc but as a soft watch without any attachments, it’s quite entertaining and arresting. The highs and lows that the movie portrays, and the various obstacles that come in Mai’s path are surprisingly watchable… until the end.

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As we reach the end, things start to go at a rapid pace, so much so that the movie becomes a little over-the-top. I guess the creator really wanted to go down that road for some reason, but personally, it ruins the reliability of the movie. The end, although acceptable, is half-baked and misses that punch that you’d expect from a movie that starts with such enthusiasm. It’s the drama for me; although I will agree that the movie in general is quite dramatic, the ending is so unnecessarily silly that the character development and plot progression are both hampered because of it.

MAI Review (2024): Final Thoughts

This romantic-drama movie had me hooked till the last and then it went down such an unnecessary direction that it left a bitter taste in my mouth. There’s fun and frills throughout the runtime of the movie and relatable characters and social issues just add to that experience. But it doesn’t make a good landing, leaving viewers disappointed and a bit sad!

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