‘This is Not What I Expected’ Deserves Your Attention
by Tito W. James
Romantic comedy is a genre that many audience members avoid because it can be really cheesy, cheap, and unoriginal. When done well, though, it can be emotionally engaging, visually striking, and push the medium of film in creative, new ways. This is Not What I Expected is a prime example of why I love international cinema.
“Lu Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is a handsome, wealthy, hotel executive whose drive for perfection is matched only by his taste for fine cuisine. When he checks into the Rosebud, he’s dissatisfied with everything he sees and is ready to take action… until the flamboyant female sous chef Gu Shengnan (Zhou Dongyu) creates what may be the perfect meal. Now, these bitter rivals find themselves brought together in the kitchen in this light-hearted romantic comedy, infused with fun and flavors to create a delicious dish that foodies around the world wouldn’t dare to miss.”
The film explores creative editing and occupies a hyper-reality analogous to early Edgar Wright films. This kind of visual experimentation appears to be more present in Asian movies and TV shows like Bad Genius or The Business Proposal. It has a rhythm akin to live-action anime but in a way that’s charming as opposed to “uncanny valley.” I wish we had more dramas as visually creative as this.
This is Not What I Expected is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
