Strictly average movie

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

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

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Yes, Michelle Ang is still a working actress.I wanted to watch this movie because its a New Zealander movie. And im an American that loves foreign films. Im always curious to see how the other side of the world works.And yes, right before watching the film, i did read the synopsis. And here it is: Its the story about a young Chinese college student (a nerdy Asian girl) that falls in love with a white college student (a very tall, lanky young man that plays videogames) She goes out with the young man. They have dinner and sex and talk about what they want to be when they graduate. But her Chinese family is still stuck in the dark ages (theyre racist) and Michelle Ang's character keeps the relationship secret....yeah, i rolled my eyes, too.I personally didn't think that having a relationship and keeping it secret was the big deal of the movie. It was the fact that she proposes marriage to her white boyfriend so she can scam the government for a student grant. Yes, that happen. Michelle's character wants to make a Kung Fu movie for some film school thesis. And she needs money. In New Zealand,the government offers cash money to newly married college students so that they can have a little bit of extra help.Ang's character seems to be very self- centered and doesn't consider committing fraud a big deal. Her excuse to her boyfriend is that they are in love and its not defrauding. Its just a way to get money. My problem with this film is that the writer/director couldn't figure out what plot to use. And tackles all 3 possible plots. Her boyfriend, her racist parents, committing fraud. The director talks about everything, but doesn't finish anything.I felt it was a relief when Ang's character agrees with her boyfriends wishes to meet her parents. Here, is where we see the boyfriend learning mandarin Chinese. He gets intense about it, too. Its a very well shot film with great actors, but lousy characters. And a tired- out "Chinese-culture-shock" movie that doesn't make sense.The Joy luck club was a better film and i suggest you watch that movie instead. Another good "Chinese-culture" shock movie to watch is "The Wedding banquet." "The Wedding Banquet." is almost identical to "My wedding and other secrets." But its better.I enjoyed This movie. But i can make some safe assumptions about the audience that is going to watch this. And i know they wont like it. Its a movie that wants you to take the side of the main character. But its hard to like her.And its somewhat embarrassing to portray a Chinese family as ignorant racists. I cant agree with that to be a fact. And if it is, then its pretty sad.

i had no idea what to expect from this movie. the title threw me off and i was thinking 'another chick flick' - that is not the case!what i found was a charming story involving two young adults stumbling into the real world of attraction, love, commitment, and dealing with cultural differences. the director roseanne liang did a marvelous job of pulling these issues together without having one issue overwhelm the others. beautifully acted by the two lead characters and especially michelle ang! her lessons are expressed from the heart - and she learns that the world outside of oneself can appear to be very cold when it is not. it's all in how you perceive it. her boyfriend learns this a bit slower.my only problem with this movie is the father character. one daughter's love is destroyed by his prejudice but the youngest daughter's love is accepted with little justification. watch the movie and you will understand. the father has no guilt in what he did to the eldest daughter and that point is not addressed in the story. yet, he seems more relaxed with the path the youngest has taken. if he chose to be more 'giving' with his youngest daughter because of the unhappiness suffered by the eldest daughter, then the director failed to clarify that fact.outside of that conflict i have with this movie, i find it a truly delightful and entertaining film. the ending is a bit 'soft' but i'm willing to overlook that due to the fine and expressive acting by the lead characters.

A cross-cultural Romeo And Juliet, the charming, quirky and very enjoyable New Zealand romantic comedy My Wedding And Other Secrets is based on the filmmaker's own story. While still a student at university, Roseanne Liang, a New Zealand girl of Chinese descent, married her Caucasian boyfriend. But she was forced to keep the marriage a secret from her strict parents because of their traditional beliefs and attitude towards interracial relationships. This subterfuge put additional pressure on both her and her partner. In 2005, Liang made Bananas In A Nutshell, a 50-minute documentary that explored this secret marriage and its ramifications. She has now turned that autobiographical film into a full-length feature film that dramatises her story and it is full of self-referential asides. The film deals with some universal themes like family, trust, love, relationships, the lot of immigrants adjusting to their new country, culture and tradition, and it has broad appeal. Liang's fictional counterpart here is Emily Chu (played by Michelle Ang), a perky but neurotic over achiever who is the youngest of three sisters. Ang (from TV series Neighbours and Outrageous Fortune, etc) brings an endearingly awkward quality to her performance, but she also manages to suggest the guilt and complex emotional journey of her character. Matt Whelan (from the offbeat comedy Eagle Vs Shark, etc) is also solid as James her boyfriend/husband, who disagrees with her hypocrisy. And veteran Chinese actors Pei-pei Cheng and Kenneth Tsang bring gravitas to their roles as her parents, who prove to be far more understanding. The film's first screening at MIFF was well received, and it's to be hoped that a local distributor will pick up My Wedding And Other Secrets, as it deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

Simply awful. I do not think such Chinese family exists. The parents are simply dictators and the daughters almost have no self-respects (in terms of chasing their own happiness). The portrait of the Chinese family is so distorted. The Chinese aren't like this at all. This is just some weird, suppressed, odd and pathetic family that only exists in a screen play. The costumes are quite awful. How many people dress like Emily nowadays? Unbelievable. And the actress looks like she's 40 years old. Why can't she wear just a bit of make-up to look real everyday people?!Watch at your own risk.