Only Fools Rush In is a 2022 road trip comedy-drama film written and directed by Han Han.[6][7][2] It was released in China on 1 February 2022[4] and was received poorly by audiences.[8]

Only Fools Rush In
Chinese theatrical release poster
Chinese四海
Hanyu PinyinSì Hǎi
Directed byHan Han[1]
Written byHan Han[2]
StarringLiu Haoran
Liu Haocun
Shen Teng
Yin Zheng
Production
company
PMF Pictures[3]
Release date
  • 1 February 2022 (2022-02-01)
Running time
128 minutes[4]
CountryChina
Box office$90 million[5]

Plot edit

The film depicts Wu Renteng and Wu Renyao[a] (nicknamed Ah Yao), an estranged father and son, who bond on a motorcycle trip.[6][10][11] They are joined by Renyao's friend Zhou Huansong and her brother Zhou Huange.[12][13][2]

Cast edit

Production edit

The film's Chinese title Sì Hǎi (四海) literally means "four seas" or "the whole world". An early working title was Niánqīng de Gùshi (年轻的故事), "a young story".[16]

The project was officially launched and gained approval for filming in February 2021. The same month, it was reported that shooting had started.[17] It was filmed on Nan'ao Island and in Guangzhou.[18][19] Production was finished on 20 August 2021 in Guangzhou.[20][18]

The film features motorcycle racing scenes and a variety of different motorcycles. The film's director, Han Han, who has experience filming car racing, said that motorcycle scenes are much more difficult to film than car scenes. When filming a car scene, Han said, a drone can get very close to the vehicle to get a good shot, and in the event of a collision the damage to the drone is a tolerable cost, but when filming a motorcycle the filmmakers cannot risk a drone accidentally striking the driver.[21]

Release edit

Only Fools Rush In was released in mainland China on 1 February 2022 (Chinese New Year)[4] and was shown in IMAX theaters.[10][8] It was advertised as an uplifting film.[10]

It was released in the United Kingdom on 4 February 2022.[22]

Reception edit

Box office edit

The film was highly anticipated, earning $44.48 million CNY in presales-[23] It went on to gross an opening day of $225 million CNY ($33.74 million USD) placing second at the Chinese box office, after The Battle at Lake Changjin II.[24] After receiving negative reviews, the film's daily box office grosses began dropping dramatically, to $62 million CNY ($9.79 million USD) by its third day and $25 million CNY ($3.98 million USD) by its fifth.[25] By the end of the first week of the Chinese New Year holiday, the film had grossed a total of $475 million CNY ($76.3 million USD) ending up sixth place below Sniper.[26] The film continued to drop in popularity and by 12 February had dropped below Dunk for the Future with a daily gross of $5.1 million CNY ($0.81 million USD).[27]

Critical response edit

Though the film did well in pre-release ticket sales, it was a disappointment upon its release,[23] receiving negative reviews from audiences.[28][8] It received an average rating of 5.5 out of 10 on Douban and 8.7 out of 10 on Maoyan.[4][29]

Sun Jiayin of Xinmin Evening News wrote that the film's storyline and themes were very similar to Han Han's previous productions (The Continent, Duckweed, and Pegasus), so much so as to make viewers feel as if they had seen it before.[9]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ The character's name is a pun: Wu Renyao (吴仁耀; Wú Rényào) sounds like "not wanted by anyone" (无人要; wú rén yào).[9]

References edit

  1. ^ Davis, Rebecca (13 January 2022). "'Battle at Lake Changjin' Sequel to Hit China Theaters in February Amid Crowded Lunar New Year Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "兄弟们登场了!《四海》全新预告刘昊然风驰电掣闯荡四海". j.eastday.com. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  3. ^ "韩寒新片《四海》定档大年初一 首曝预告真"香"". 北青网. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "四海". www.maoyan.com. 猫眼. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Daily Box Office > China". EntGroup.cn. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Lin, Kristian (10 February 2022). "Film Shorts // February 9-15, 2022". Fort Worth Weekly. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  7. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (29 January 2022). "China's New Year Box Office Grosses May Hit New High". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Chinese film market hits second-highest holiday box office record - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  9. ^ a b "大年初一全国票房破15亿元 创中国影史单日场次数新高". m.gmw.cn. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Tartaglione, Nancy (31 January 2022). "Chinese New Year Movies Ready For Box Office Battle: 'Water Gate Bridge' Leads Pre-Sales; Comedies & Dramas Could Surprise". Deadline. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d "韩寒电影《四海》曝新预告 刘昊然遇上各种"想不到"". 中国青年网. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Trailer: 'Only Fools Rush In'". Far East Films. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Spring Festival movie guide 2022 - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  14. ^ "虎年春节档"龙腾虎跃"". 华声在线. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  15. ^ "电影《四海》曝幕后花絮,新朋旧友齐唱《平凡之路》". 新京报. 2022-01-30. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  16. ^ "韩寒《四海》定档2022大年初一 刘昊然搭档刘浩存_华语_电影网_1905.com". www.1905.com. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  17. ^ "韩寒新片《年轻的故事》立项 刘昊然刘浩存主演". 中国青年网. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  18. ^ a b "电影《四海》正式杀青 韩寒手写信感谢剧组同仁". 猫眼电影. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  19. ^ "韩寒带火"南海中的一个绿洲" 亲测值得专程前往". travel.ifeng.com. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  20. ^ "韩寒新作《四海》杀青 发手写信感谢剧组成员_娱乐频道_中国青年网". fun.youth.cn. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  21. ^ "轰!这是"内燃机的声音" 《四海》新特辑揭热血飙车的秘密". 北青网. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Only Fools Rush In - Film Review and Listings". LondonNet. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  23. ^ a b "春节档电影总票房破50亿,《狙击手》反超《四海》开始逆袭". 澎湃新闻. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Daily Box Office > China". english.entgroup.cn.
  25. ^ "艺恩娱数". ys.endata.cn.
  26. ^ "Daily Box Office > China". english.entgroup.cn.
  27. ^ "Daily Box Office > China". english.entgroup.cn.
  28. ^ "Silver screens strike gold over Spring Festival holiday". SHINE. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  29. ^ "四海" – via movie.douban.com.

External links edit