While there are some echoes of some common Christmas stories, there is a lot that is unique in this one. At the start it is about a photo=journalist who gets assigned to cover a famous Christmas party in the Chinese community without her editor knowing the family giving it is hers. As the story goes on, we learn that she has also had an influence on the development of the party.
Liv reacts strongly to anything that ties her to her family in public. At first I thought Shannon Chan-Kent was overacting with this. By the end of the story her emotion becomes more understandable. This woman brings real energy to the part.
There is a romance between Liv and the writer, Henry, assigned with her. They spend a lot of screen time together, but the romance between them is not as obvious as would be expected from all that screen time. There is Chinese-American history and culture and sights to see.
The conflict begins far earlier than usual but is complex and takes time to really develop. In that, there are some threads associated with racial bullying mixed up with and contributing to Liv's insecurities.
Chan-Kent sings twice in the movie including the climax. I believe the language was Cantonese. Her voice and the song are beautiful.
Liv reacts strongly to anything that ties her to her family in public. At first I thought Shannon Chan-Kent was overacting with this. By the end of the story her emotion becomes more understandable. This woman brings real energy to the part.
There is a romance between Liv and the writer, Henry, assigned with her. They spend a lot of screen time together, but the romance between them is not as obvious as would be expected from all that screen time. There is Chinese-American history and culture and sights to see.
The conflict begins far earlier than usual but is complex and takes time to really develop. In that, there are some threads associated with racial bullying mixed up with and contributing to Liv's insecurities.
Chan-Kent sings twice in the movie including the climax. I believe the language was Cantonese. Her voice and the song are beautiful.