Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Review | Fresh Off Markham, second-rate comedy about Chinese immigrant experience

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2/5 stars

An ambitious, if ultimately unsuccessful, comedy thriller from first-time filmmakers Kurt Yuen, Trevor Choi and Cyrus Lo, Fresh Off Markham packs a number of pointed issues into a triple-stranded, Tarantino-inspired narrative set in the multicultural Toronto suburb of its title.

Potent themes ranging from immigration and racial prejudice to historical exploitation are raised, but poor writing and stilted performances hobble it from the get-go.

In “Red River”, Shan (Chang Nian) arrives from China and immediately becomes embroiled in petty crime. Stiffed by the shady relocation company that promised him a job and accommodation, he reluctantly joins his old buddy Kevin (Li He) in knocking off a Japanese restaurant, a job that inevitably goes awry.

敗走麥城 FRESH OFF MARKHAM | 正式預告片 Official Trailer | 香港 X 加拿大獨立電影 | 11.28 錦繡中華

In the second story, “Five Point O”, Shan and Kevin find themselves inadvertently carpooling with Hong Kong influencer Circle (Jessica Chan Yee-chun, Time Still Turns The Pages).

Their driver (Edmond Clark) is so concerned about maintaining his perfect customer rating that he agrees to chauffeur his oddball clients around town despite one of them needing urgent medical attention.

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