A suicidal man gets a fairy godmother and STILL can't catch a break. Relatable king.
Northern China, the present day. Jobless and penniless after being sacked by his boss, and deserted by his wife and young son, 42-year-old cook Erbao attempts suicide but is saved by a fairy, whose sole purpose is to make him happy. She grants him wishes, with the proviso that if he doesn't find happiness he should utter the magic phrase "I'm having a great time!" and he will be returned to the present for another wish. Erbao chooses to be a martial arts hero, a millionaire, a film star and a beautiful young woman but finds all of their lives have drawbacks. Finally, he asks to become an emperor in Ancient China.
Acting
Sun Xing's exhausted everyman energy is uncomfortably real.
Writing
The fairy's contract clause is deliciously petty mechanics.
Director
Niu Chao-Yang
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'wish fulfillment gone wrong' structure directly echoes 1990s Hong Kong Lunar New Year comedies, but relocates the existential dread to post-reform China.
Xie Na was China's most popular TV hostess when cast; her fairy character subverts the traditional 'celestial beauty' archetype by being actively annoyed by her assignment.
CN
