Hong Kong West Side Stories 向西聞記 (2018 - TV Series) - Hong Kong
Length: 12 episodes (23 minutes each)
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)
This is a divertingly interesting HMVOD original series about the younger generation dealing with various social and relevant issues on marriage, love, dating, sex and pretty much what’s the current situation of Hong Kong right now. With an element of black comedy twist, based on the online serial by xxx and directed by Nero Ng. The series manages to be engaging throughout with minor ties of characters and situations between each episode. What impresses me is the originality and freshness of the topics and stories on display whilst providing the younger generation of stars a platform to shine.
Louis Cheung kicks off the series with the “Animal Communicator” episodes (1&2) on a high note showing flair and presence as he playboy his way into the minds of women and their dead pets. This includes an interesting turn from love interest Myolie Wu. In “Error After Night”, Justin Cheung shines as the cheating culprit who hilariously uses various techniques including hot iron to cover kissing trails. “PTGF and PTBF” segment shows a BBC male and Hong Kong girl attempts modern dating and borderline prostitution. Meanwhile, the romantic segment “When They Meet in Taipei” starring Fish Liew is surprisingly sweet and romantic. Perhaps the most controversial episodes comes at the end “Bunk Beds” (episode 11&12), where Gregory Wong and Patrick Tang fights it out for a small social housing to inherit from their father played by Lam Suet. The extent they take to reach their goal of owning a run down small “home” will likely induce laughter and astonishment.
All in all, this is a fun and entertaining series made for the younger generation and focuses on many aspect of relevant social concerns that Hong Kongers are facing right now, lack of space, hope, endless job hours, sex and housing problems. All these are mixed into a black comedy of sorts to create a series that will likely reach a bigger audience with the recent release on Netflix as well.
I rated it 8/10