What Women Want
 
                           
Director: Chen Daming
Year: 2011
Rating: 5.0
Hell of I know. That has been beyond me for many many years and I expect always will be. What do women want. Besides diamonds and pearls and a good book to read with some chocolate in the refrigerator? You got me. Probably not a toxic male like the character Andy Lau initially plays in this film. He feels like a blood brother of Andrew Tate. Andrew Tate also thinks he is Man's Gift to Women. Such a creep but then so is Lau in this. Insufferable. He is a top executive at an advertising company and is surrounded by gorgeous women. Nearly every one of them would break your heart in a second. And this being HK where the "Me Too Movement" apparently never took off, he hits on all of them. A flirtation machine. And they give him a big smile and laugh - ha ha ha - you are wonderful Mr. Sun (his character's name). Life is good for Mr. Sun. He thinks he is about to be named to the Chief Executive position and all the flatterers are ready with the champagne and praises. Roll out the Red Carpet. But instead, it goes to a female from another company. Yilong. Played by the always perfect Gong Li. Matched up against Andy Lau. Two actors who look pretty much the same as they did 25 years before. I wonder if they traded beauty tips.  



This is based on the Mel Gibson film of the same title from 2001. I never saw it. Because I won't see anything Mel Gibson is in. Low life anti-Semitic scumbag.  Not seen any of his films since Lethal Weapon. Same thing happens here as happened in that film. Mr. Sun gets electrocuted and gets the power to hear what women are thinking. Only women. Nothing important mind you because they are women and this film is all about the male ego. In a scene leading up to his accident Lau alone in his apartment flings and flaunts himself like an aging diva, posing, drinking champagne, taking off his shirt and then putting on women's make-up. It is weird and I assume Lau was making fun of himself. If not, good God.



The film takes a funny turn though when he goes into the office the next day and all those gorgeous women are still smiling but thinking evil thoughts about what a slime he is. His feelings are hurt. I have no doubt that if any of us knew what people really thought about us, it would be painful. Our egos would sound like glass breaking. At first it is driving him crazy but he realizes that he can weaponize it to get ahead at work and pursue women. What woman can resist a man who attends to her every desire. The rest of the film is as bland as a peanut butter sandwich with him of course becoming a better man through understanding women. Very predictable but Gong Li's face is still a miracle. If only it had been in Mandarin.