Proving that success can come from unexpected places, the most commercially successful Chinese film to date isn’t a high-production martial arts flick, doesn’t star Jackie Chan, ignores themes of republic-building, and isn’t even set in China. Reports AP:
Chinese state media say the wacky road movie “Lost in Thailand” has grossed more than 1 billion yuan ($160 million) since its Dec 12 debut. The official Xinhua News Agency, citing an independent monitor of box office figures, said Wednesday that it also beat James Cameron’s “Titanic” in 3-D, the most popular foreign film in 2012, in Chinese theatres.
Here’s the anonymously written synopsis via IMDB:
Lost in Thailand is the story of two rival business managers, Xu (Xu Zheng) and Bo (Huang Bo), who are fighting over a revolutionary new in-house technology for control of their company. If Xu wins, his future will be secured. The critical task is to secure control over the shares of the chairman, who is at a retreat in Thailand. Xu catches the first plane to Bangkok, where he meets the happy-go-lucky Wang (Wang Baoqiang), an unexpected travel companion who will open his eyes to life’s true priorities.
Check out the trailer. (More clips here.)
And it’s not even as good as the first one. Plus, what’s with comedies like this in Thailand? First Hangover 2 and now this one.