Director Lee’s trilogy ("Father Knows Best") in bringing together family members to create tension and tender comedic moments shine in this trio of PUSHING HANDS (1991), THE WEDDING BANQUET (1993). and Eat Drink Man Woman (1994).


I knew that this movie was going to be at least 'good' movie when i saw the part where Wai Tung Gao (Winston Chao) and Simon (Mitchell Lichtenstein https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0509033/ ), his gay lover made up the "requirements " for his future wife that was sent to Tung Gao's mother Mrs. Gao (Gui Ya Lei) and I knew it was going to be a"great" movie when his mother comes back in the next scene finding a female that met the two lovers' "outrageous" requirements of a potential wife!

As i said in the review of "Pushing Hands" review, Ang Lee has a tendency of throwing you a "twist" near his movie's end when you think you have the movie figured out already. However, this movie has TWO "twists" in it, but I am not telling you what they are!

Trust me, both of the remaining part of this trilogy (including this one) are no exception as far as plot twists!

The main characters are great at making you believe that they are actually living the life of their characters in this movie; and the support cast is also very good and believable, including Mrs. Gao and her husband Mr. Gao (Lung Sihung from "Pushing Hands"). I especially like Mr. Gao's playing 'dumb' in this movie; believe me, he isn't!

The parents actually find out what is actually taking place; as most parents usually do!

The rest of the support cast are also believable in their roles, lending their support for making the main cast seem more legitimate.

The music is not overbearing and helps set the mood at various places in the movie. The cinematography is also very good in this movie.

I like the two male leads in their attempt to fool Tung Gao's parents, and I just LOVE the parents actually showing that they were not born yesterday!

Wei Wei (Kao Chin Su-mei /Chin Su-mei/May Chin/Ciwas) put on a great performance as the love-struck renter and bride of Tung Gao; too bad she retired from acting and became a politician. She is part of the "twists" of Ang Lee's direction in this movie as well!

This movie may be watched as a separate movie or as a part of Ang Lee's trilogy; either way, it is a great movie that should make Ang Lee proud for decades to come!

It is available for free online.

RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!