"Mai" may not be the first film I've reviewed this year, but it is the first Vietnamese film release of 2024 that I decided to publicly share my thoughts on. I went to see the screening at 21:57 on a whim after reserving tickets for the 22:00 showing. Due to some of the dialogue in the film causing me moments of awkwardness, I'll structure my personal impressions in point form, to match the style of the film.

Overall:

The plotline hits the right balance of being easy to follow while still keeping things interesting, with predictable yet not overly heavy plot twists. At times the story delivers on comedic or emotionally resonant moments.

The lead character is fully committed to their role, and the supporting cast are each given enough screen time to establish themselves and add different dimensions.

The visuals and chemistry between the main leads is excellent, earning bonus points from me as a fan of Phương Anh Đào. The cinematography and color grading in the first half resemble Wong Kar-wai films (which I enjoy, though not to the same artistic level in my view), transitioning to darker and cooler tones in the second half with color schemes similar to other recent Vietnamese theatrical releases.

Some scene transitions cut the flow briefly but don't frustrate the viewer.

The dialogue is mostly concise, seeming to aim for a Hollywood movie style when translated to Vietnamese but coming across a bit truncated at times. It's a plus that many lines will undoubtedly become popular quotes though, and their brevity aids memorability.

Costuming effectively conveys each character's personality, from major to supporting roles (who removed Bình Minh's headphones wrapped around that extra's neck?!). The film includes some predictably loud and chaotic shouting fights too, staples of earlier Vietnamese rom-coms.

A few thoughts:

I felt the film encourages believing in giving your all to love, only to receive heartbreak in return - just kidding. To me, "Mai" distinguishes between loving completely versus marriage being a separate commitment. If loving is pouring your heart into a relationship, then Mai and Dương exemplify that. But if the goal is marriage, don't emulate their headfirst dive without consideration for longer term compatibility.

The scene of Mai removing her makeup alone was an opportunity, in my view, for some Joker-esque emotional expression à la Joaquin Phoenix's take - just to add comic relief by darkening her mood.

Khả Như's character brought to mind a version of Lê Giang from other films.

Dương's "friend" came across more as his inner voice than a true companion, highlighted when they fought in front of the families meeting.

The moment where Dương hugs Mai, asking her to wait two years, felt hugely impactful - essentially a PR golden opportunity, since realistically their families' escalating drama doomed them from the stair fall confrontation.

It's unfair to fault Dương for seeming mama's boy-ish (details subtly establishing this from his name down to behaviors), since he was raised that way from childhood as depicted in his argument with his mother - an insightful character detail.

After all Mai endured, sitting tearfully in the Mercedes (if memory serves) was probably healthier than forcing fake smiles on a Vespa.

Lessons I took away:

• Promises only have value when kept
• Say what you want clearly, don't say no when you mean yes, and don't stay silent when you have something to say
• Only by cutting ties can healing start
• Girls should worry less, boys should meddle less
• Missing someone isn't the same as death, it just means feeling sad
• With challenges that come your way, either drown in them or let go and adapt
• If you know the outcome yet still choose to act, consider the worst case scenario and have a plan. Otherwise, it's best not to engage to spare your mind the stressNo matter what, family will always be the top priority

Overall I'd give it a 6.5/10 score. While not perfect, "Mai" succeeds more than it misses as an enjoyable romantic drama that balances humor and heart well for mainstream viewers. I appreciated its examination of relationships versus lifelong commitments too. It's a film I think many young adults in Vietnam can find relatable on some level.