Writer: Ezekiel Lee Zhiang Yang

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Watch this if you liked: "Never Been Kissed", "She's All That"

Well, slap this reviewer twice and don't call him Jack Neo for giving this movie an exorbitant four stars.

At once embarrassingly predictable, "The Wedding Game" (previously "The Wedding Of The Year") is surprisingly a delightful rom-com that doesn't dip below the cliche comfort levels that so often fail us in sickeningly sweet movies. Not that this is.

Firstly, we get to see Singaporean ace Fann Wong in a slightly meatier role for once, confirming that she always had a better depth, one which movies like "Ah Long Pte Ltd" did not allow her to show, no thanks to Jack Neo's all-conquering box office exigencies. Better yet, we get to see a completely endearing chemistry between her and co-star Chris Lee, who just happens to be her off-screen lover in case that helps. One would thank the producers for securing such a pairing, if you ever caught the disaster that was "Dance Of The Dragon", an excruciatingly forced effort involving the non-dancing Fann Wong playing a dancer opposite a Korean dude.

Not that we are convinced of a possible case of life imitating art but the movie is about a celeb couple who fake a relationship to gain more industry points, not to mention money. The finished product has a good setting, shot well with the right pacing and alternating storytelling styles. Production values are excellent and nothing is too jarring, with the exception of a ridiculous scene of a cycling paperboy shouting "suratkhabar!" when throwing the newspaper over the gate.

The performance of the two leads aside, plenty of suitable cameos are smuggled in, most notably Saiful Apek's sidecar-riding appearance. There are also quite a few Singaporean sportsmen who are featured.
We simply ought to be happy a decent Singaporean effort that doesn't involve money problems has made the screens. Concise, flowing and most of all, modest - "The Wedding Game" has been played many times by other productions outside the region but this is one we can all call our own - and guess what? It's actually a good movie.

Cinema Online, 22 January 2009