Writer: Goh Wen Xuan

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Watch this if you liked: “Hooked On You”, “Crossing Hennessey”

Zhi-Ming and Chun-Kiew are two of the most down-to-earth, common names you can find in Taiwan. It could probably mean that the movie's characters are also common people found in the daily lives of Hong Kong. However, this isn't a 'kampung-styled' love story; it's an urban rom-com, set amongst two smokers during the non-smoking ban in February 2009.

Cheung Zhi-Ming (Shawn Yue) meets Yu Chun-Kiew (Miriam Yeung) during a cigarette break behind an alley with his colleagues. The two strike up an unlikely friendship after that rendezvous, and continued to meet up for a puff or two, including texting each other continuously whenever they're free. Sounds like a love connection in the making? Unfortunately, both of them are already attached! Nevertheless, Zhi-Ming continues to meet up with Chun-Kiew, causing Chun-Kiew to break up with her live-in boyfriend.

The story is based on the usual lives of smokers, always huddling together for a quick smoke, thus exchanging various information like gossips, ghost stories, or even ridiculous gags. The movie started with an eerie incident at the car park, which turned out to be one of the horror stories told by a pizza delivery guy during their cigarette breaks. It also intertwines with several impromptu interviews with characters in the movie, discussing about their private lives, as well as their past experiences in smoking. Some people might think that it would be redundant, but it reveals quite a lot of unanswered plots in the movie.

Shawn Yue and Miriam Yeung might be superstars in Hong Kong, but in "Love In A Puff", they're just the average Hong Kongers on the streets. Not much is to be commented on their acting, as both of them were very comfortable in their dialogues as well as the relaxed chemistry between them. Praises should be given to director Pang Ho-Cheung for simple, laid back dialogues (including mild curses that should be retained!), and great cinematography (accentuating Miriam's hair colour). Give this a go if you love Miriam Yeung's bubbly character; avoid it if you think Miriam and Shawn smoking really turns you off.

Cinema Online, 09 June 2010