S'pore-M'sian CNY film 'Blooms of Happiness': fun family movie overstuffed with time-travel gags

Let’s be honest, Chinese New Year films are a bit of a tradition, aren’t they?

Every year we’re served family dramas with a hefty dose of humour, heart and maybe a little too much sentimentality.

But when I heard about "Blooms of Happiness", a Singapore-Malaysian film hitting the screens right after the Chinese New Year festivities, I couldn’t help but wonder if it might offer something a little different.

Directed by Ryon Lee and starring Ah Niu, Hong Huifang, Vivienne Oon, and Dennis Chew, "Blooms of Happiness" is a fun, light-hearted comedy with a twist—time travel.

I’ll admit, I was curious. Could this movie breathe some fresh air into a genre sometimes seen as formulaic?

The story follows Gao Tian (Ah Niu), a convenience store owner on the brink of signing divorce papers with his wife, Luo Sifen (Vivienne Oon), a successful live-streamer.

With Chinese New Year approaching, they agree to have one last reunion dinner, inviting their respective parents. However, after a tense argument, Tian storms off, and his mother, Doo (Hong Huifang), chases after him.

A car accident leaves her seriously injured, and just when things seem at their worst, a Cat God appears to offer Tian a chance to fix everything by travelling back in time.

Here's the trailer:

Warning: Lots of spoilers ahead.

Family dynamics we all know too well

At its core, Blooms of Happiness is a story about family.

And, in true Chinese New Year film fashion, it dives into the complexities of family relationships—particularly the classic, sometimes strained, mother-son dynamic.

From the start, Tian’s relationship with his mother, Doo, feels like something many of us can relate to, especially those of us from traditional Asian households.

Tian’s frustration with his mother’s relentless reminders of his past embarrassments—like the time he farted during his birthday party—feels both relatable and painfully familiar.

Many of us with Asian parents can relate to their uncanny ability to remember the most embarrassing moments of our lives and bring them up at the most inopportune times.

Mother Doo’s tendency to constantly revisit these awkward memories adds an authentic layer to the film.

In the film, when Tian asks her to name one good trait about him, her blunt reply is, “None”.

It’s a raw and honest depiction of how, for many of us, the desire for parental approval often goes unmet.

This sentiment might strike a chord for people who grew up in families where love is often shown in actions but rarely expressed through words.

Eight tries to make it right

Now, the time-travel element—here’s where the movie gets interesting.

The Cat God, who can appear in various random forms (a homeless man, an Indian national, a drag queen and more), offers Tian the opportunity to change his past and save his mother.

The catch? He can’t meet his past self, or the time-travel magic will reset, with only eight chances to do so.

As entertaining as this premise is, the film’s reliance on time-travel gags and wild misadventures starts to feel a bit overstuffed.

The comedy takes a while to hit the right note, and while there are certainly some funny moments, the time-travel antics can come across as a little repetitive.

The whole “butterfly effect” idea is there, but it’s not really explored in depth.

The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is fine, but at times it seems like the plot is trying to do too much—distracting from the heart of the story.

Instead of exploring the deeper emotional beats, the time-travel twists feel like a gimmick that’s stretched too thin.

A mother’s sacrificial love

That's not to say there are no emotional moments in the movie.

As Tian attempts to change the past, he begins to realise the extent of his mother’s sacrifices for him—sacrifices he had never truly appreciated.

One particularly heartwarming scene stands out: Tian uses his final time-travel chance to revisit his childhood.

Here, he witnesses his mother tirelessly working to make bamboo shoot buns for him. She even goes the extra mile by giving the buns to his friends as a way to thank them for spending time with her son.

These kind of small, yet significant, moments show the depth of her love, even though she has trouble expressing it in conventional ways.

In the film’s most touching moment, when Doo faces her own life-or-death situation, she says to Tian, “I’m not afraid of death. I need to save you. I want you to live well”.

It’s a line that perfectly captures what the movie is about—sacrificial love.

While the film’s emotional message is clear, I couldn’t help but feel that the message of love and sacrifice had the potential to be explored even further.

Perhaps a few more scenes or dialogue exchanges could have allowed this theme to resonate more deeply with its viewers.

Through thick and thin

The film also delves into the troubled marriage of Tian and Sifen.

Their constant bickering, driven by insecurity and simmering resentment, plays out throughout the film.

Sifen often belittles Tian in the film for his financial struggles and his “second-hand” lifestyle of buying used items.

In turn, Tian finds ways to fire back, even quipping that Sifen will be “second-hand” once he goes through with their divorce.

Ouch.

The cracks in their marriage are undeniable, and as Tian journeys through time, he’s forced to confront the main causes of their issues.

Among these are Sifen’s fling with a Korean man and Tian’s struggles with mounting debt.

It’s in these time-travel moments that "Blooms of Happiness" finds a sense of grounding as the characters reflect on their past, we see them as real people trying to make sense of their flaws and their love for each other.

Final thoughts

Veteran actress Hong, known for her historic nomination as Best Leading Actress at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards for her role in "Ajoomma", brings her usual gravitas to the film.

However, I felt the movie didn’t quite tap into the full range of emotions that Hong is capable of, especially given the depth of her character.

Another familiar face, DJ Dennis Chew, appears in a very short cameo as Nezha and the Goddess of Mercy.

The time-travel gimmick, while creative, doesn’t always hit the mark, and the plot at times feels a bit messy.

Still, its themes of family, love, and understanding proves both relatable and quite enjoyable.

If you're looking for a casual family movie night pick, this one fits the bill.

"Blooms of Happiness" is now screening in cinemas across Singapore and Malaysia.

Top image via mm2 Entertainment.