Worth: $12.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Shuang Hu, Ilai Swindells, Tiffany Wong, Rob Collins, Tzi Ma
Intro:
… a flighty romcom with a healthy dose of empowering family healing on the side.
After success with original Australian content with series’ like Deadloch and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Prime Video presents their first original Australian feature film: a cute (if predictable) romance directed by Shawn Seet (Storm Boy).
Opening an artisanal teashop that offers tea lovers an authentic traditional Chinese experience (and NO bubble tea) was always Lia’s dream. Sadly, making the move to Sydney from Townsville with little more than the money her PoPo left her when she passed, put a strain on not only Lia’s relationship with her family, but her romantic pursuits as well.
Fast forward to the present and Lia’s got a struggling business with no customers, a devoted GBFF Mason (Ilai Swindells), who’s doing his best to make Lia see the light when it comes to bubble tea, and an unexpected invitation to her sister’s upcoming wedding. In natural romcom fashion, this all culminates with Lia finding herself set up on the titular five blind dates, each prospective suitor chosen by her family and friends in the hopes that Lia can find her very own soulmate before the wedding.
Starring Shuang Hu, who also co-wrote the script alongside Nathan Ramos-Park, Five Blind Dates doesn’t fail to hit those familiar romcom beats, even opening with a “Once Upon a Time” to let audiences know exactly what they’re in for. Owning its genre tropes from the outset, the film embraces its sentimentality, setting itself up as a flighty romcom with a healthy dose of empowering family healing on the side. The comedy side of things can feel a tad forced at times, with a 50/50 chance of jokes either landing with a solid chuckle or feeling awkwardly stale.
The cast is a blend of relative newcomers and familiar faces, including Tzi Ma (Rush Hour, The Quiet American) in the role of Lia’s father. A fresh offering from Prime Video just in time for Valentine’s Day, and hopefully just the first of many showcases of Australian talent that we can look forward to seeing on our screens.
