Love in a Puff

Sparks fly in Pang Ho-cheung’s cute romantic comedy

“We don’t need to do everything in one night. We’re in no hurry.”

At the end of the 2000s, governments all over the world implemented global smoking bans, preventing people from lighting up in public buildings of any sort. Collectively, smokers had to either quit or haul ass outside, where they probably created micro communities and close friendships. Maybe, I don’t know. I never smoked.

Love in a Puff is a film that uses this as its inciting incident. A group of workers from different adjacent buildings meet up to talk about their love lives, gossip and generally talk shit. Among them is Jimmy (Shawn Yue), whose recent embarrassing break-up is the talk of the group. Cherie (Miriam Yeung) joins the group that day, and she and Jimmy immediately hit it off, marking the first day in their week-long courtship that spans the film’s runtime.

Over the next few days we get more insight into both of their lives. Cherie is living with her boyfriend, though she seems to no longer love him. Jimmy is sweet but cautious of affection. Together, they grow fond of one another while navigating their flaws. It’s a love story that accelerates very quickly and has a lot to accomplish in its short (in-universe) time, so it’s vital for a film like this to have characters we can care and root for.

And to that regard, the movie’s biggest appeal is in the way it treats its characters. The dialogue is exceptionally sincere, and the level of realism writer-director Pang Ho-cheung hits allows the film to feel far more interesting than many other romantic comedies of its kind. Characters speak frankly, and in ways reminiscent of people casually hanging out, of which this film consists highly. The two leads and their costars are all pretty charismatic and play the scenes like actual friends – or at least friendly acquaintances – which makes us feel like we’re spending time with people we know and like.

It’s good that it hits home in that regard because in terms of pure story structure, Love in a Puff isn’t all that exciting. It follows, almost perfectly beat for beat, every many of the standard romantic comedy formulae, with the exception that neither Jimmy nor Cherie dislike each other at first. In fact, it’s this breakneck speed in which the relationship goes that gives the movie something of an edge. Sure, the plot might be more or less everything you’ve come to expect from the genre, but the fact that it all happens in under a week is pretty impressive to the point of being kind of silly. But I suppose it makes the title all the more fitting.

Love in a Puff is saved thanks to a tight script and a cast of characters relaxed enough to deliver it. It never really feels like a particularly original creation, as nothing really surprises you – except for maybe the frankness ad general maturity in which everyone talks. But that’s fine. Love in a Puff feels at time quite comfortable. It’s reassuring that it does do those tropes well, and manages to remain entertaining throughout. If we ignore the weird Harry Met Sally style interview portions that only serve to tell and not show things the film could have easily put into more natural conversation. The film has two other sequels, and unless they’re spiritual in nature or Cherie and Jimmy’s cigarette-based love doesn’t work out (I hope not, I’m rooting for them!), I’m not entirely sure what they could possibly be about. My guess, based on the titles: nudism and being arrested.

Verdict: While structurally bland, Love in a Puff takes its central concept and its characters seriously enough to make a charming, memorable romcom.

Overall entertainment: 7/10
Violence: 0/10
Sex: 2/10
Smoking: You know, it seems pretty cool actually
Best idea: That smoking in the drink thing. Genius!
Why there are no UFO sightings in Hong Kong: The buildings are too tall, of course
Texts: My version had subtitles translating all the SMS-speak, so that was nice.

Love in a Puff (2010)
Also known as: 志明与春娇
Cantonese

Director: Pang Ho-Cheung
Writer: Pang Ho-Cheung

CAST

Miriam Yeung – Cherie
Shawn Yue – Jimmy
Cheung Tat Ming – Joseph
Roy Szeto – Eunuch
Sharon Luk – Vivian
Charmaine Fong – Patty
Yat Ning Chan – Isabel