4/5 stars
Following a series of supporting turns in films such as The Hangover Part II, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk and Who Killed Cock Robin , American-born Taiwanese actor Mason Lee – son of two-time Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee – finally transitions into fully fledged leading man in the romantic comedy Stand by Me.
Lee plays Jiu-bing, a university student and part-time running coach who until now has allowed every significant decision in his life to be dictated by his infatuation for classmate Bo-he (Ivy Shao Yu-wei). But moving away from home and the routine of school life sees these lifelong BFFs slowly drift apart, not least when Bo-he meets handsome senior Mai-zi (Edison Song Bai-wei).
Following an explosion in his dorm, Jiu-bing is forced to find lodgings off campus, and becomes the unlikely roommate to eccentric high-schooler Tian-xia (Tsai Jui-hsueh), who helps her father (Chu Chung-heng) run a struggling pastry shop. Jiu-Bing’s young accomplice is initially keen to help him win Bo-he’s affections, but their elaborate stunt sees the pastry shop fall further into debt, and Tian-xia is forced to acknowledge her own growing feelings for Jiu-bing.
Adapted from Song Xiaojun’s novel Pace Runner by first-time writer-director Lai Meng-Jie, Stand by Me approaches its subject matter of one-way infatuation with a refreshing balance of maturity and humour. Jiu-bing has always wanted his relationship with Bo-he to be more than just friends, but has never had the courage to step out of the friend zone.
As with his part-time job as a “pacer”, he has spent almost a decade offering support and companionship to the girl, instead of focusing on achieving his own goals. Ironically, Jiu-bing’s actions almost always result in Bo-he having to step in and save him from his own mistakes, but the resulting relationship has become playfully fraternal rather than genuinely romantic.
Tapping into a similar vein of spirited adolescent silliness to that in the work of Giddens Ko Ching-teng, particularly his smash hit You Are the Apple of My Eye , Lai wrings plenty of laughs, pop culture references, and an overwhelming sense of fun from material that could easily have slid into mawkish melodrama.
All three principals deliver warm, layered performances beyond merely fulfilling their respective roles in this predictable yet genuinely touching love triangle. Together with Lai’s effervescent directorial flair, Stand by Me proves effortlessly delightful.
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