MOOVIE REVIEW : SELAMAT PAGI CINTA (2008 - Malaysia, Bahasa Malaysia)
MOVIE REVIEW : SELAMAT PAGI CINTA (2008 - Malaysia, Bahasa Malaysia)
Category : Drama, Romance / Starring : Que Haidar, Sharifah Armani, Fazura, Pierre Andre, Cat Farish
A rather attention catching title, getting mixed opinion from public, some thought it was interesting, while some just regarded it very cheesy. I caught David Teo, the producer boasting about this movie on telly one day. Then again, which day of the year that man is not boasting, and he's produced ridiculously low-quality movies like Cinta Fotokopi, Mami Jarum and Jutawan Fakir. It was one of those sudden impule me and a friend had one day after dinner to catch a movie at midnight, and we decided to give this romance movie a try, after being impressed with Cinta and Sepi.
After all, the movie is supported by a group of credible talents, Que Haidar, Sharifah Armani and Fazura. It didn't take me more than 15 minutes into the movie to realize we've made a wrong decision. The story starts off with Pierre Andre narrating, something about the way this actor talks which I find rather unconvincing and phony. We then see Julia (Fazura) getting picked up by a 'supposedly' charming stranger Ilham (Andre) in a book store, and then a convenient store. Ilham uses totally cheesy and tacky pick-up lines which surprisingly works, in the story that is. After like two dates, Ilham continues his absurd charms to woo Julia by proposing to her that they should get married, and flipping a coin to make that big decision!
Next we have the cute couple Azam (Haidar) and Suci (Armani), students who bear strong feelings for each other, start going out, and romance soon blooms in the air. This part of the movie worked, but wasn't anything to gloat about. Although both come from very different background and status, their attraction grows deeper but soon Suci starts to doubt whether they are right for each other when Azam breaks his promise, turning up late for their dates. Errm...how lame can a plot be? Turning up late for dates twice, and that creates the 'rumble' in their relationship. Sigh...
Then again, I should have known better. The scripting of the movie was done by Andre. It is sometimes such a huge riddle for me how he gets such great credits for what seem to me as very ordinary and common work, both acting and scripting wise. In fact, the only factor which salvaged the whole movie was the three main actors Haidar, Armani and Fazura, and they totally over-shadowed Andre's rather plain acting.
The story resumes with predictable climax and mundane twists like the usual plague of some fatal diseases and love challenged by the girl getting caught in an arranged-marriage of her parents with someone else richer. To make it worse, unrealistic dialogues destroy the whole drama-feel of the movie, with lines like "Macam mana cinta kamu?"; who talks like that, really.
An absolute disappointment. By miles and miles behind in quality and pale in comparison to other local drama movies like Cinta, Sepi and Sepet.
Rating : D+ (The only possibility I would re-consider to give it a C- is mainly for the acting of Haidar, Armani and Fazura)
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Comments
of course I hate when a great story gets done in by actors who make it more then impossible to believe them as anything but a bad actor in a movie!
Too bad I just finished reading a story where the words were a bit on the border of being unbelievable but I am a sucker for sappy stories!
Jamie - So true. At times I get movies with poor plots, but because the actors were so good we are sold, but even then, they better have great dialogues written for them. This case was not just the plot, some of the dailogues are ridiculous and unrealistic.
Ija - Yes, don't bother ;-)
Ciki - Yes, Kabir Bhatia & Yasmin Ahmad are the only two Malaysian directors whose movies I look forward to watch.