Goodbye Mr. Loser is your to-watch film if you need a good laugh with an abundance of relatable references. Although hilariously entertaining, a relatively more serious concept underlies its storyline: sometimes, what you want is not what you need. Keep calm and cherish the people who are sincerely and genuinely good to you!
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A Singapore-Malaysia remake of the 2015 same-title film, Goodbye Mr. Loser is a time-travelling comedy with a local touch. Yi Bai, portrayed by Ian Fang, is a regular guy living his life with regrets and feeling like loser, until the day he finds himself back in the year 1999. Thinking that this is his second chance at life, Yi Bai strives for fame and success, the things that he wanted but did not have.
The Good
Playing a rather major role in the film’s setting is the music industry, in particular Mandopop. Yi Bai, having come from the future, turns the going-to-be-popular songs into his own and shoots to fame. People marvelled at his “talents”, but he slowly realised the superficiality in these friendships and relationships. If you are familiar with Mandopop, you are bound to recognise some of these songs. Perhaps even with just a stroke of the guitar.
With a local touch to the film, Goodbye Mr. Loser is not difficult to relate to, especially for the late 80s and early 90s kids. Keep your eyes peeled for things and people that are iconic at that period, which will definitely jog your memory. Don’t be surprised if you see A-Mei, Jay Chou or even Barack Obama guest-starring in the film! Limited budget yes, but kudos to the people who found and included the actors with uncanny resemblance to these well-known people.
The (Not That) Bad
The background music of the film could be better though. There are scenes which are awkwardly silent with just dialogues. Music can enhance or downplay scenes, but the absence of it is rather odd.
And The Summary
Goodbye Mr. Loser is your to-watch film if you need a good laugh with an abundance of relatable references. Although hilariously entertaining, a relatively more serious concept underlies its storyline: sometimes, what you want is not what you need. Keep calm and cherish the people who are sincerely and genuinely good to you!
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