One only needs to see the undeniable chemistry between Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng to understand why Needing You was a massive hit in Hong Kong when it was originally released. Their charisma is undeniable and often infectious, even in the silliest of moments.

Make no mistake there are plenty of silly moments in this film.

Needing You is one of those romantic comedies where fate and a little magic work in conjunction to bring two unsuspecting lovebirds together. The individuals in question are Kinki Kwok (Sammi Cheng), a woman who uses her obsessive need to clean things as a coping mechanism to deal with a cheating boyfriend, and her boss Andy Cheung (Andy Lau), a womanizer with a fondness for eating bull penis.

Offering to help Kinki land the guy of her dreams, Andy shares his knowledge of love with his quirky colleague while giving her a makeover in the process. Spending more time together, their growing friendship stirs up plenty of gossip amongst their co-workers at the office. Although Kinki’s transformation get off to a rocky start, things pick up once Andy’s old flame, Fiona (Fiona Leung), takes it upon herself to set Kinki up with a young internet billionaire named Roger (Raymond Wong).

As Kinki and Roger begin to bond, Andy’s jealously starts to grow. Forcing the playboy to ponder both what he wants out of life, and Kinki’s role in his future goals.

The overall plot of Needing You is one that has been tackled countless times in the romantic comedy genre. However, directors Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai incorporate a healthy dose of absurdist humour that makes the film a real treat. The comedic beats, as ridiculous as they may be at times, are so entertaining that they add an extra layer of charm to the central romance at play.

Needing You may not break new ground, but thanks to the wonderful performances by Cheng and Lau, it will have you cheering for this kooky couple to the very end.

Screens:
Friday, December 15, 9:15 PM, TIFF Bell Lightbox

This film is part of TIFF Cinematheque’s Johnnie To: Expect the Unexpected series running from October 26th to December 28th