Five Blind Dates
| Five Blind Dates | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Shawn Seet |
| Screenplay by | Nathan Ramos-Park Shuang Hu |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Martin McGrath |
| Edited by | Mark Warner Wendy Greene Bricmont |
| Music by | Shirley Song Jina Hyojin An |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Amazon Prime Video |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Five Blind Dates is a 2024 Australian romantic comedy film, written by Nathan Ramos-Park and Shuang Hu, who also stars.[1]
With her artisanal tea shop in Sydney unsuccessful, Lia returns to her hometown of Townsville for her younger sister's wedding. At the engagement party, a fortune teller tells her she will meet the love of her life amongst her next five dates.
The film was first released online on January 16, 2024
Plot
[edit]Lia uses her grandmother's inheritance money to open an artisanal tea shop in Sydney which, although not being successful she keeps secret from her family. Returning home to Townsville for her younger sister Alice's wedding to Nigel, she brings Mason, her close friend and workmate, for support.
At the engagement party, where their bitterly divorced parents constantly bicker, fortune teller Mrs. Li tells Lia she will meet her soulmate amongst her next five dates. Her palm reading indicates her personal and professional lives are intertwined. Lia's mother reintroduces Lia to Ezra, a younger teacher at her school. Lia is surprised to see childhood friend Richard, who had lost contact with her years ago. He mentions his family's restaurant is soon opening a location in Sydney, then Alice reveals they are best man and maid of honor.
Lia parties hard, waking in Richard's bed. She freaks out, fearing they had sex, but Richard insists nothing happened. He took her home not knowing where she is staying. Richard mentions he needs a date for the wedding, but Lia insists she doesn't. Then she enlists Mason's help to at least get her a wedding date. Brainstorming what she needs in a potential mate, she then alerts her family she will let them choose blind dates for her.
Lia's dad Xian finds Apollo through a dating app. Extremely wealthy, the polyamorous Chinese businessman has two partners he maintains elsewhere, so seeks someone he can take to see his parents, his business partners... Lia would have an allowance, and keep her tea shop, but she would have to produce at least three sons. Although she declines, he offers to be her wedding date.
Lia's mom Jing selects Indonesian Ezra at the botanical gardens. There, Lia has to stab him with his Epi-pen when he accidentally ingests an allergen. Then, as they are kissing, he says Jing, so she realizes the 30-going on-50 Ezra wants her mother.
Appearing at Lia's tea shop to assemble the 120 wedding favors, Richard comments on her lack of customers. Lia gets hostile, so he leaves. Alice introduces Curtis to her at Splash Day, where Richard has brought a date. The meditation guru, who is very tactile, helps Lia overcome her fear of water.
On the car ride home, Richard shows his dislike of Curtis. Soon Lia and he are arguing over why they have not spoken for years. When she moved to Sydney to open the tea shop, but he backed out at the last minute with no explanation. Upset, Lia insists on getting out of the car.
At the bridal shop, Lia's immediate family are all there, so Lia explains how each of the blind dates were unsuitable. When her mother says she is being close-minded, Lia blames Jing's insecurities for her own inability to date normally as Xian should have left them much earlier. Everyone is upset, so Alice disinvites her to the wedding.
Marching into her tea shop, as Lia pours out to Mason what happened, a teen rudely interrupts her. He live streams from the shop, incredulous that they do not do more modern drinks nor takeout. Lia has a dramatic rant, which rapidly goes viral. Mason lets her mope in her flat for three days before rescuing her. Once back at the tea shop, her recent 'fame', fills it with customers. Although they mark everything up and force minimum purchases, they sell out.
Lia goes to Alice's wedding, where everyone apologizes to one another, admitting she was right and that they envied her. At the reception, Nigel tells her that not only did Richard do the wedding favors on his own, but single-handedly kept his family and their restaurant together when his mother fell ill.
In Lia's maid of honor speech, she talks of soulmates, and sometimes not seeing what is right in front of you. Seeing Richard quietly leave, Lia hurries after him. She asks him why he did not tell her, and he explains he did not want to hold her back, and they kiss.
Back in Sydney, the tea shop is thriving, they have diversified their menu and Lia and Richard are happily together.
Cast
[edit]- Shuang Hu as Lia
- Yoson An as Richard
- Tiffany Wong as Alice
- Ilai Swindells as Mason
- Tzi Ma as Xian
- Renee Lim as Jing
- Rob Collins as Curtis
- Desmond Chiam as Apollo
- Jon Prasida as Ezra
Production
[edit]Directed by Shawn Seet,[2] Five Blind Dates is the first Amazon Prime Video Original movie to be produced in Australia. Co-writer Nathan Ramos-Park initially had the idea for a reality show called Five Blind Dates where five people from the contestant's life choose a person that they think be their soulmate. Co-writer Shuang Hu has described how the film incorporates themes such as "filial piety and some of the responsibilities we feel towards our families in this modern era of trying to make a career and chase our dreams, but also feeling the responsibility of getting married and having kids".[3]
The cast is led by Shuang Hu and also features Desmond Chiam, Tiffany Wong, Renee Lim, Tzi Ma, Yoson An and Rob Collins.[4]
Release
[edit]The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on 13 February 2024.[1][5]
Reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Five Blind Dates holds an approval rating of 50% based on 6 reviews, and an auspice score of 65%.[6]
Angeline Barion in BuzzFeed described the film as "feel good and comforting".[7] Jodi McAllister in The Conversation described it as "refreshing" and "joyful".[8]
Adaptation
[edit]In March 2024, it was reported that a British adaptation written by Nikita Lalwani had entered post-production, entitled Picture This.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Marsh, James (February 10, 2024). "Amazon Prime movie review: Five Blind Dates – Australian romantic comedy starring Shuang Hu and a mostly Asian cast is no Crazy Rich Asians". South China Morning Post. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Five Blind Dates". Screen Australia. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Jeffery, Yasmin (February 13, 2024). "With Five Blind Dates, Shuang Hu decided to make a rom-com about filial piety, friendship and a tea shop". ABC Entertainment. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Hamilton, Lisa (February 14, 2024). "Five Blind Dates on Prime Video is an unmissable new Australian rom-com". Mamamia. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Five Blind Dates (2024)". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Five Blind Dates". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Barion, Angeline (February 14, 2024). ""Five Blind Dates" Combines Swoonworthy Leads And A Heartwarming Story To Give Australian Rom-Coms A Face Lift". BuzzFeed. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ McAlister, Jodi (February 12, 2024). "New Aussie rom-com Five Blind Dates could become your next comfort watch". The Conversation. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (March 22, 2024). "Simone Ashley & Hero Fiennes Tiffin Leading Prime Video Rom-Com 'Picture This'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 22, 2024.