By Mr. Will Wong
Two comedic giants, Ali Wong and Randall Park team-up writing and starring in Netflix‘s latest Feature Film, Always Be My Baby. The Rom-Com gives us a twist on the genre standard, examining a romantic relationship between two inseparable childhood friends who unite again as adults under very different socio-economic situations. Sasha (Wong) is a renowned restauranteur and chef, who is engaged to investor Brandon (Daniel Dae Kim). Marcus (Park) has musical aspirations but earns a living helping with his father’s business as a handyman. A disagreement between the two separates the best friends and they have a chance meeting again after Sasha visits San Francisco to launch a new restaurant.
Nahnatchka Khan does a fantastic job capturing San Francisco as a character in this charming story which veers a bit of from Wong‘s signature raunchy Comedy, but certainly not lacking her realness. Park perfects Marcus’ underachieving awkwardness in a way that makes us root for him to find himself, a running storyline beneath the Rom-Com arch.
A comedic turn from Keanu Reeves is memorable and he has fun with it. Details are intricate in this feel-good throwback to the ’90s, everything from the food to the music (its theme song inspired by Mariah Carey’s smash hit Always Be My Baby) and even Reeves himself, one of the biggest stars of the era. We love that it gets the Asian-American experience of growing-up with frugal and maybe sometimes absent parents and while heeding to Rom-Com tropes, it also goes against the grain with a slight edge.
The Film is proof of the commitment to a more inclusive Hollywood, telling stories with characters we need to see more of and we’re here for this.
ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE streams on Netflix Friday, May 31, 2019 and that perfect lift in spirits we need heading into the weekend.
We had the pleasure of attending a private Toronto screening of the Film with Chef Michael Kim of Uncle Mikey’s who gave us a cooking demonstration with a Sake pairing.
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