“Waiting For My Cup of Tea” is undeniably a slow burn. Despite being under two hours, the plot moves rather steadily, leaving viewers to ponder over each set piece, and dwell over the ongoings. A fairly typical love story, there is not anything overwhelmingly exciting to find here, but for those who are fans of melodramatic tales of romance, there is plenty to sink your teeth into.
“Waiting For My Cup of Tea” is screening at Asian Pop-Up Cinema
The majority of the film focuses on two rather enigmatic characters, Xiao Hua (Ellen Wu), and Huang Zi Jie (Simon Lian). They are both stubborn in their own ways, and have plenty of baggage, yet find themselves drawn to each other in seemingly unspoken attraction (at first, at least). Navigating their own hardships and contemplating romance, loss and life itself, they become a source of comfort to each other, all while hot tea remains as the surprising bonding agent.
For all the quirkiness, “Waiting For My Cup of Tea” does fail to escape some of the pitfalls usually present in a melodramatic romance flick. For one, a sense of “will they, or won't they?” lingers in the background, and while the answer is predictable, no attempts are made at changing the narrative. Additionally, while the idea of the past, or exes, causing a wrench in the present is fair and reasonable, it can often unravel tediously, or confusingly, on the screen.
With that being said, the eventual climax does pay off well, and allows both protagonists to come to a solution that suits both of their personalities. There is no overdrawn, bold statement of love, or really anything dramatic, but rather a warm embrace served up with the hot tea that drew the couple together. In that regard, the consistency of the movie is nicely worked, and helps to allow for some semblance of memorability.
Continuing, the acting of both Ellen Wu and Simon Lian is strong, and aids in the couple being investable. Ellen plays a bright, and an occasionally energetic painter who leads with her heart and lets the rest follow, while Simon Lian depicts a contemplative, ill inward-looking man with a real finesse. The chemistry between the pairing is smartly executed too, giving some depth to a script that can sometimes miss the mark.
Technically, everything is tight, with some bright colours bringing certain settings to life, and the scenery befitting the story which is unravelling. Much like the film itself, everything is neat and without fuss, and that does work to an advantage.
Overall, while “Waiting For My Cup of Tea” may not tick all the boxes, it still provides plenty of poignant moments. It is unlikely to be for everyone, but as far as love stories go, there is certainly much worse out there.
