“I’m Livin’ It” Critically Falls Flat, But Alex Man Shines

After extended push-backs due to the coronavirus, Hong Kong drama film I’m Livin’ It <麥路人> finally earned its premiere last week. The film stars Aaron Kwok (郭富城) as a former financial analyst who was imprisoned for misappropriating funds. Struggling to find work after his release, Aaron finds shelter at a fast food restaurant, where he starts helping other grassroots also spending time at the restaurant.

Despite the star-studded cast, which also includes Miriam Yeung (楊千嬅), Alex Man (萬梓良), Cheung Tat Ming (張達明), Nina Paw (鮑起靜), Liu Yase (劉雅瑟), and Zeno Koo (顧定軒), the film falls flat in delivering the emotions it was meant to evoke, with too many characters and not enough time to tell all of them. Supporting actors shined in the film, leaving little room to expand the main character’s story.

What the film has done exceptionally well, however, was the story about Uncle Waiting (Alex Man). Uncle Waiting was a retired firefighter who witnessed his wife jump to her death. Unable to accept reality, Uncle Waiting resorted to waiting for his late wife every single day at the fast food restaurant. He would sit on the same table, with one glass of water, looking directly at the empty space in front of him.

Alex Man’s eye-catching moment in the film was the scene where Uncle Waiting cried and screamed in the streets after kicked out of the restaurant. The heart-drenching scene was done exceptionally well, completely erasing the aftertaste of Alex’s former performances in older films and TV dramas.

I’m Livin’ It was released in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China on September 17, 2020. Check out the trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0hMfDInK_4

Source: HK01.com

This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.

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Responses

  1. ‘completely erasing the aftertaste of Alex’s former performances in older films and TV dramas’. What does this mean? I thought his performances had always been excellent. I rate him as one of the best HK actor out there.

    I didn’t recognise him at all from that photo. Age hasn’t been kind to Alex at all. I mean to compare with his peers, like Ray Lui or Chow Yun Fat.

    1. @pompidur I totally agree with you there, he was one of the best actors in Tvb. Strong performances everytime. You need to remember the role he’s playing here:
      Uncle Waiting was a retired firefighter who witnessed his wife jump to her death. Unable to accept reality, Uncle Waiting resorted to waiting for his late wife every single day at the fast food restaurant. Pretty heavy stuff, grieving husband who can’t let go.
      Also, i dont think you can compare him to Ray, i suspect Ray has had a little or alot of minor works done. Just my opinion.

      1. @dramafan Yeah, that’s what I meant, I thought the article sounded weird. I’d never doubt Alex’ acting skills, he truly is one of the best out there.

        I didn’t know Ray Lui had works done. He looks pretty good for his age.

    2. @pompidur

      Alex Man was never known nor was he popular because of his appearance and charisma like Ray and Chow Yun Fat. Alex had always been known for his stage presence and his ability to excel in acting. Also, Alex had been battling a host of health issues for the past 20 years, so that took a toll on his body. IMHO, Alex is the better actor of the 3.

      1. @mike Yes he was, spraying saliva on the actresses since he’s always in emotional drama but you can say he is not overacting, he is rather a very dramatic actor. Overacting implies he is a bad actor and Alex Man is never a bad actor, he just approaches his role differently.

  2. i was having high hopes for the drama after watching the trailer and promotional clips. too bad the film isn’t telling the story well.

  3. Alex Man? THE Alex Man?! Wow! There was a time he looked terrible now he looked much better. I don’t get the negative tone of the article about his previous performances. Anyone who knows TV dramas KNOWS he was legendary in his performances. Yes he was OTT and that Dodo Cheng has got her face sprayed by his saliva but how many actors these days could be so charismatic and inhibit the role the way he did? All his previous works were classic, from elsewhere to TVB and he inspired generations. So that line about after taste is poorly made. If his past performances has after taste, the new generation actors all stinks. If Alex Man returns to TVB for just 1 series, I will put the air date in my calendar and watch, even if Sisley Choi is in it.

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