Very little
about The Rooftop feels very
original, with a great deal of the storyline and feel of the film seemingly
taken directly from Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin
Rouge! (2001). It is entertaining and fun, but also a bit predictable,
melodramatic and self-indulgent. Fortunately, the target audience likely won’t
mind these shortcomings for the chance to see Jay Chou shirtless and singing.
Chou is best
known in the Unites States for his supporting role as Kato in The Green Hornet
film adaptation, playing the role made famous by Bruce Lee, but in China
Chou stars as
the free-spirited rooftop dweller named Wax. When he happens to meet his dream
girl, a movie star named Starling (Li Xinai), Wax is able to win her over by
taking a job as a stunt man on the film she is working on. The biggest obstacle
is the leading actor, who is also interesting in the beautiful young star. This
love triangle becomes ugly, especially when it becomes clear that Starling
prefers the sincere Wax to a conceited movie star.
This film is
nearly as goofy as Kung Fu Hustle, almost as romantic as Moulin Rouge!, and not
quite as colorful as either. It isn’t a terrible film, but forgetting all the
others it seems to be imitating is difficult to do.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6/10
Historical
Significance: 5/10
Disc Features: 1/10
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