NASI LEMAK 2.0 (2011)

Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Director: Namewee
Cast: Namewee, Adibah Noor, Karen Kong, AfdlinShauki, Dato’ David Arumugam, Reshmonu, Kenny & Chee, Nadine Ann Thomas, NurFathia, Dennis Lau, Dian Sharlin, Pete Teo, Ho Yuhang, Felixia Yeap
RunTime: 1 hr 48 mins
Released By: Clover Films and Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: PG (Some Coarse Language)
Official Website: -

Opening Day: 1 December 2011

Synopsis: Young Chef Huang (Namewee) struggles to get his restaurant business going because he cannot adapt to the ‘localized’ cooking his patrons are looking for. Contrary to his unpopular cuisine, he is also well-known as ‘Hero Huang’ in the neighborhood where he helps the local community, until he met Xiao K (Karen Kong) who got him into deep trouble. In order to get his life and the restaurant business back on track, Chef Huang must now seek help from a mysterious lady who runs a hawker stall (Adibah Noor)… She summons him to embark on the extraordinary journey of his life. During this self-enlightening experience, he will also meet many ’local heroes’ each lending their support to help him re-discover his roots and the real hidden message of ‘Nasi Lemak’.

Movie Review:

A plethora of films may be fighting for your attention this week, but don’t be so quick to dismiss this offering from across the Causeway. After all, ‘Nasi Lemak 2.0’ has already earned the honour of the most successful local Chinese-language film, no small feat considering that it had eclipsed the previous title-holder by almost twice the box-office dollar. Of course, this movie also has the advantage of being the debut film from a- shall we say- infamous personality, whose claim to infamy was to edit the country’s national theme, provoking calls from a group of Malay youths in Perak to ban this debut film of his.

If they had the generosity to watch the movie before starting their protest, they probably would have called it off. Indeed, there is nothing unpatriotic here- in fact, writer/director Namewee echoes the Malaysian’s government’s call for a ‘1Malaysia’ in a light-hearted fashion without any sanctimony. Sure he does poke fun at social issues within his country, but these jibes are no more scathing than Jack Neo’s in ‘I Not Stupid’ or ‘Money No Enough’. Rather, his crowd-pleaser may just be the unlikely tool for the Government to win over an increasingly cynical and disenchanted Chinese population.

Keeping his story simple, Namewee’s story tells of a Chinese chef Huang (played by Namewee himself) who has to discover the secret recipe behind a delicious dish of ‘nasi lemak’. His journey takes the form of a road trip where he visits different ethnic families- a Malay household practising polygamy with four young pretty housewives live under one roof; an Indian household where a daughter has decided to help her father continue with the family spice business; and not forgetting an elderly Nyonya husband-and-wife pair. The multiracialism on display is of course deliberate, and Namewee uses the dish of ‘nasi lemak’ as an analogy of how different races can come together to complement each other in their multiethnic society.

It’s a contrast that won’t be lost on local audiences, given our multiracial makeup and our familiarity with the dish. Just as relevant is the apprehension Namewee’s Chef Huang shows towards his competitor in a cookery competition, Lan Qiao (Dennis Lau), the latter hailing from China. Yes, it seems our anxiety towards the influx of foreigners is also shared by our closest neighbour. Nonetheless, there are other subtleties where knowledge of context is important- such as Chef Huang’s initial disdain towards the popular street-side ‘nasi lemak’ stall run by Kak Noor (Adibah Noor), and his complaints about the partiality of the authorities towards roadside stalls run by the Chinese.

As can be expected of a first-time director, the combination of these elements results in a film that feels uneven and even disjointed at times. But there is madcap brio in Namewee’s technique, as he boldly blends different genres like Bollywood, horror, ‘mo lei tau’ comedy and of course social satire into one brew. Rough around the edges it may be, but the genuine strokes of inspiration in Namewee’s script are more than enough to forgive him for his lack of polish.

It must also mean something that Namewee has managed to assemble such an all-star Malaysian cast for his debut film. Besides singer/ actress Adibah Noor, there’s also Karen Kong who uglifies herself to play Xiao K, who enlists Chef Huang’s help to stop her unscrupulous aunt from taking control of the successful Restoran Gong Xi family business. Kong is especially lively as the kind-hearted but unattractive girl with bushy eyebrows, and is an excellent complement to Namewee his road trip.

Speaking of complement, Namewee also has a engaging soundtrack to go with the movie. You may have already seen the ‘Curry Neh’ video on Youtube, but it is just as hilarious when you watch it again in the movie. Another standout is Namewee’s ‘getai-like’ duet with Xiao K, set to the melody of a classic Chinese song but with the lyrics in broken English. There’s also the theme song of the movie, a variation of ‘Rasa Sayang’, to top it off at the end- and it is both cheeky and catchy and guaranteed to stay with you long after you leave the cinema.

Namewee’s accomplishment in making this movie of course is even more significant considering the challenges he faced in securing the budget. It’s no doubt a labour of love, and the effort he has put into the film is evident. No wonder then that this witty and entertaining crowd-pleaser has won the hearts of many Malaysians- so even though some local references may be lost on a Singaporean audience, be sure to check out why ‘Nasi Lemak 2.0’ is the top-grossing Chinese film there.

And if you need any more convincing, we’ll leave you with the MV of the movie’s theme song, a personal favourite of ours:

Movie Rating: