If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

This is the one that woke Malaysian cinema out of its prolonged box-office slump. A crowd-pleasing musical romantic melodrama (based on the unrequited-love hit song "Isabella") which nevertheless has serious themes about religious tolerance, it's well-written and well-directed. The beauty of Terengganu state and the haunting "ulek mayang" song are well-exploited, too. As is usual with Malaysian movies there are limitations to do with budget and technical aspects, but they can be forgiven for delivering a good story.