THAT GIRL IN PINAFORE (我的朋友，我的同学，我爱过的一切) DVD (2013)

SYNOPSIS: Jiaming, a spirited teenager has never taken school seriously. However he is forced to confront his future when he flunks his O level exams and drops out of school. While deciding his future, Jiaming decides to help out at his parents' music pub, 'Meng Chuan'. Jiaming's buddies Caogen, Haoban and Xiaopang pass their exams and move on to Junior College. But they are caught renting porn magazines by the principle and are suspended for a month. During this month, the boys join a local music competition, have a taste of first love and work hard to bring business back to the struggling 'Meng Chuan'. In this coming-of-age tale, Jiaming and gang realise the harsh realities of the real world. In growing up, choosing to follow your heart is never easy in the face of societal expectations.

MOVIE REVIEW:

In short, That Girl In Pinafore is Singapore answer to Giddens Ko’s 2011 hit, You Are The Apple of My Eye. Please don’t assume this is a mere copy of the Taiwanese flick but both are strongly rooted in the same vein even though they are geographically apart.

The young talented Chai Yee Wei co-wrote and directs this effort, which is set in the early 90’s using xinyao as the backdrop. A group of four teenage buddies, Jiaming (Daren Tan), Cao Gen (Seah Jiaqing), Hao Ban (Kenny Khoo) and the obligatory fatty, Xiao Pang (Kelvin Mun) are preparing for their ‘O’ levels. At the end of the day, all of them successfully went into JC except Jiaming who has not much of an interest in study. Roping in the rest of his buddies to help out at his parents’ dismal music pub, they gets to know a fellow bunch of girls who shared the same interest as them – music.

Its apparent Chai cheats a little since the xinyao movement has long disappear by the 90’s replaced by music from the four heavenly kings and bands liked Nirvana and Guns N Roses. Still, Chai managed to craft a piece of genuine coming-of-age tale that is guaranteed to warm your hearts. Who can forget about the coolest technology at that time, the Discman or mugging late into the night at airport and the experience of first love?

Jiaming’s affection for May (Julie Tan) becomes the bulk of the last act despite the upbeat, often engaging first hour. A series of memorable songs from one of xinyao pioneers Liang Wen Fook and a couple of dance segments from the cast (who actually hold their tunes pretty well) will keep you humming and tapping to the beat. Sadly, it’s the rather melodramatic love story between May and Jiaming that bogged the rest of the movie. The usual clichéd moments when a worried atas mother refused her daughter to see her poor boyfriend, add to the fact that May actually has a serious heart condition and it becomes a stark contrast to the far potential first half.       

As to the performance of the cast, Project Superstar Daren Tan makes a good match with TV actress Julie Tan. Both looks (and sounds) good especially Julie who surprises us with her sweet vocal and makes a convincing pair of lovebirds. The Woo sisters (Jayley and Hayley) and the rest of the relatively new faces including Sherly Ng as Xiao Pang’s love interest and Naomi Yeo who appears for the finale seems ready made for the local television and movie circle.

After doing two horror thrillers, Chai’s That Girl In Pinafore is a wonderful piece of sentimental tribute not only to the bygone days of xinyao but also acts as a time machine that takes us back to our youthful days.     

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The extras consist of Teasers and Trailers, a Bonus Song by Ng King Kang and a 23 minutes Making of which has the main cast members discussing the movie and music producers sharing their thoughts on recreating the xinyao music onscreen. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Visual on the whole looks fine but the Dolby Digital 5.1 sounds muffled and soft at times.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee