Love on a Diet

Love on a Diet, released in 2001, is a Hong Kong romantic comedy directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai. Known for its peculiar take on love and humor, it stars Andy Lau as Fatso and Sammi Cheng as Mini (Mimi/Mo). They both give fantastic performances, bringing to life their unique characters.

The movie explores universal themes such as love, self-esteem, and self-worth, yet does so from an unconventional perspective, presenting an unexpected twist on the more familiar romantic comedy plots. Although it incorporates elements of slapstick humor, at its heart, Love on a Diet is a touching portrayal of how people confront their insecurities and strive for acceptance and love.

Set in contemporary Japan, Love on a Diet tells the story of Fatso, an overweight Hongkonger living in Japan, who is unusually skilled at Japanese and knows how to blend into the local culture. He is content in his solitude and has accepted his position in society—until he meets Mini (played by Sammi Cheng).

Mini is an overweight woman suffering from low self-esteem, searching desperately for her quintessential love—a Japanese man named Kurokawa (played by Rikiya Kurokawa). As the story unfolds, we learn that Mini was once a slender woman who gained weight due to her deep depression after breaking up with Kurokawa. Kurokawa returns to Japan after seven years, making Mini more determined to lose weight and win back her ex-lover.

Fatso, who feels an immediate attraction to Mini, decides to help her. Together, they embark on a weight-loss journey, facing and overcoming bumps along the way. Fatso’s selfless support of Mini serves as an emblem of true love, and his unwavering desire to help her improve her life becomes one of the movie’s primary themes.

The film showcases Andy Lau's and Sammi Cheng's incredible acting range. Lau, posing as both the slim martial artist Kaneshiro Takeshi and the bulbous Fatso, showcases his effective transformational skills. On the other hand, Cheng displays an impressive performance as Mini—a woman grappling with her loneliness and self-pity. Both actors take on the daunting physical transformation to potray overweight characters, reflecting the lengths the directors are willing to go to commit to the movie's premise.

The film bridges the gap between humor and emotional depth effectively. The various scenes of Fatso and Mini trying to slim down despite their deep-rooted insecurities are both comedic and heartfelt. These scenes give physical comedy a new connotation and prove that love goes beyond the mere physical appearance.

Beyond these weight-related predicaments, the movie also poignantly captures the theme of unrequited love. Fatso's unwavering love for Mini and her relentless pursuit of Kurokawa paint a bittersweet picture. The one-sided love stories are portrayed heartbreakingly beautifully, demonstrating the lengths people often go to for love.

Director Johnnie To manages to instill the film with moments of heartfelt emotion and lighthearted humor, striking a delicate balance in the storytelling. His ability to steer the narrative with such finesse amounts to the film's unique charm and appeal.

Additionally, Love on a Diet captures some aspects of Japanese culture, with the setting and several other characters based in Japan. This cultural fusion delivers a distinctive flavor to the movie, helping to highlight its central themes while also creating an entertaining visual spectacle for the audience.

A crucial undercurrent is the importance of self-acceptance and self-love. Fatso and Mini's characters, despite their personal struggles with body image and self-confidence, teach the audience that genuine happiness can only be achieved when we accept ourselves.

Love on a Diet proves that a film could be fun, humorous, and tackle weighty issues (pun intended), all at the same time. Its accessible narrative, warm humor, and relatable characters make it a delightful watch. Whether you're a fan of romantic comedies, or simply interested in films with solid performances and an engaging plot, you'll find something to enjoy in this peculiar love tale. This heartfelt, hilarious, and painful journey of love, loss, and acceptance will, indeed, leave you with some food for thought.