Is Back to the Good Times Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2018)

📖 The Core Premise

Back to the Good Times returns to the screen in 2018, bringing a fresh narrative to the Comedy, Drama genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Nearly a year has gone by since the passing of Grandma, and the Zheng family is busy preparing for memorial rituals. Hwa Jia (Crowd Lu) gets discharged from military service and happily reunites with Wei (Vera Yen). The next morning, Wei's parents catch them in bed together and flip out. Wei's angry parents confront Hwa Jia's family, and the whole meeting turns into a farcical mess. Faced with an unprecedented crisis, Hwa Jia must figure out how to save himself and his family. Part of TTV's acclaimed Qseries imprint, the quirky and moving family series A Boy Named Flora A (2017) turned into one of Taiwan's biggest television hits of 2017. The cast and crew return with more family love and laughs in the 2018 feature film Back to the Good Times (2018), directed by Yu Ning Chu. Released during the Chinese New Year period, the film follows the post-military life of protagonist Hwa Jia, played by popular singer-songwriter Crowd Lu"

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Back to the Good Times, Tsai Chen-Nan delivers a serviceable performance that keeps the narrative moving. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Comedy. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Back to the Good Times worth your time? If you appreciate Comedy, Drama films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Back to the Good Times is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 119 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.