Movie Reviews: Don’t Call Me Bacchus

1 Hrs 22 Mins

Rating

★★★

Duration

1 Hrs 22 Mins

MOvie Digest

Lao Jiu is witty and funny but always a drunken mess trying to pick up fights or create scenes in the bar houses. He works as a bicycle service driver that does not pay well, yet he tries hard to make money. One night he accidentally meets Da Hu, who is also drunk and brings him a house to rest. They become friends after Da Hu understands that Lao Jiu plans on traveling to the South to find his runaway sister. Da Hu and others also join this journey which turns chaotic with every step forward.

The Feel-Good Part

The comedic aspects are well portrayed. The actors also did a great job of depicting their respective roles. The growing friendship bond between Lao Jiu and Da Hu is wholesome and heart-warming. Even with its simple script, the movie is entertaining and engaging enough to watch. This movie is generally about the chaotic journey and amusing character life. It also manages to speak about an important topic which is Alcoholism and its effects daily. The sibling bond portrayed in the movie also brings tears and stirs emotions.

The Disappointing Factor

The average production and directing style minimize the impact of the movie. Its standard storyline and plot also were somewhat a letdown. The characters needed a more detailed, deep, and well-built structure. Even though it is fun and hilarious in some scenes, it misses impresses in the remaining parts. A sensitive topic like Alcoholism was not handled well and was not focused too much. It was more for the comedic effect that might be a bit questionable depiction. In some parts, the acting and the script get too much annoying, but it still manages to keep reeling the viewers.

In-Depth Analysis

The story portrays the differences in economic, social, and personal conditions with dramatic tension. Lao Jiu and Da Hu are opposite, yet both set out on a journey from the northeast to the southern area to find Lao Jiu’s runaway sister. During this trip, they meet with various personalities as drinkers and opponents challenging them. After meeting different types of people and many drinking games later, Lao Jiu realizes that his drinking problems are messing up his life, and he needs to change his ways of living for the better. It portrays the healing and growing journey of an alcoholic man. A hilarious essence with layers of emotions to peel off.

Star Power

Qin Li Yang and Song Xiao Feng portray the roles of Da Hu and Lao Jiu in this movie. Tencent Penguin Pictures is a production company used in this movie, and its original language is Chinese. 

Overall Opinion

It is a light-hearted watch with credible acting by the whole cast. It is fun to watch the friends going on the journey with all the drunken mess that elevates the comedy level and makes it an entertaining and immersive watch. This movie is an emotional ride that will keep on going higher.