Buzz
The Million Dollar Kiss is slated to hit theaters on the first day of the Lunar New Year 2025. The film has already released a funny trailer filled with captivating moments surrounding the complicated relationship of sisters Kiều and Vân.
The three Vietnamese films premiering this upcoming Lunar New Year are The Four-Horsemen of Revenge, Love the Wrong Best Friend, and The Million Dollar Kiss, all in the comedy and romance genres. Among them, The Million Dollar Kiss by the married duo Thu Trang and Tiến Luật is receiving significant attention, especially after the teaser and trailer left the audience intrigued with several intriguing plot twists.
The teaser and trailer for The Million Dollar Kiss are worlds apart.
The poster for The Million Dollar Kiss has a bright and charming look, introducing the main and supporting cast, with the focus on sisters Thúy Kiều (Thu Trang) and Thúy Vân (Thiên Ân). Alongside the two sisters, the poster features the handsome cast members Lê Xuân Tiền, Ra Man Đô, Tiến Luật, and Võ Tấn Phát.
In the film's first teaser, The Million Dollar Kiss centers on the younger sister Thúy Vân (Thiên Ân) and her romantic entanglements with two men: Quang, a successful young entrepreneur, wealthy and charming, and Tú, a notorious playboy who has inherited a vast fortune from his late father. Both men are infatuated with Thúy Vân. Who will win her heart—Quang, the sophisticated business tycoon, or Tú, the irresistible bad boy?
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However, the official trailer for The Million Dollar Kiss shifts focus from Vân's romance to highlight the relationship between the two sisters, Kiều and Vân.
The modern-day story of Thúy Kiều and Thúy Vân
In the official trailer for The Million Dollar Kiss, it is revealed that the two sisters, Thúy Kiều and Thúy Vân, have a heated argument. The conflict stems from the elder sister Kiều, who has been deceived by her lover (played by Huy Khánh) into losing a large sum of money, forcing her to pawn the house she shares with her sister.
Facing the risk of being homeless and harassed by gangsters, the younger sister Vân is furious, berating her sister for misplacing her love. Meanwhile, Kiều sobs uncontrollably, feeling that her sister looks down on her.
Unlike the self-sacrificing character in the original literary work, the Kiều in The Million Dollar Kiss film version appears to be much more practical and self-serving. She quickly comes up with a plan to make money by… wooing wealthy men.
The new version of Kiều is not just irresponsible, unable to care for her sister, but also pushes her younger sister to use herself as a tool to hunt for rich men. Based on Vân's expressions, it’s clear she is not too thrilled with her older sister's plan.
Tiến Luật also appears in the trailer with humorous scenes alongside Kiều and Vân. His character, Trọng, seems to be a nod to Kim Trọng, the male protagonist in Truyện Kiều. It’s likely that Trọng will initially be drawn to the younger sister, but eventually end up with the older sister instead.
In the teaser and official trailer, we can see a lot of screen time for Thiên Ân, Lê Xuân Tiền, and Ma Ran Đô. These actors are relatively new faces in Vietnamese cinema. Meanwhile, seasoned actors like Thu Trang and Tiến Luật have less screen presence.
Thiên Ân’s character Vân is particularly in the spotlight, but her performance hasn't quite made a lasting impression beyond her beauty, which is perfect for a beauty queen. The humorous scenes involving the trio Thu Trang - Tiến Luật - Võ Tấn Phát remain more memorable, especially the funny scene where Tiến Luật kneels to “propose” to Thu Trang.
However, trailers aren’t everything, so we’ll have to wait for the film’s release to make a proper judgment. Another plus is that the movie was filmed in Đà Lạt. Both the indoor and outdoor scenes are stunning, capturing the romantic essence of the city of love.
Thu Trang's all-in move after 20 years in the industry.
Thu Trang has always excelled in portraying everyday comedy, gaining popularity with her successful web dramas. In fact, she has starred in several films with impressive box office earnings, including Em Là Bà Nội Của Anh, Tiệc Trăng Máu, and Chị Mười Ba: 3 Ngày Sinh Tử.
She has previously ventured into film production in various projects, but with The Million Dollar Kiss, it is her first time stepping into the role of director for a feature film. According to Thu Trang, the movie’s theme is not about romance, but rather focuses on family bonds, especially the sisterly relationship.
In an interview with the press, Thu Trang revealed that she has worked on several films exploring family relationships. Therefore, she believes The Million Dollar Kiss will resonate with audiences' hearts. This is exactly what she has hoped for since she started working in the film industry.
After being censored, The Million Dollar Kiss received a T13 rating (suitable for audiences 13 and above), making it accessible to a large viewer demographic. As a result, Thu Trang is confident that the film will be suitable for everyone, for all families.
Both films, Bộ Tứ Báo Thủ and Yêu Nhầm Bạn Thân, explore themes of love. However, The Million Dollar Kiss takes a different approach, focusing more on family bonds, specifically the relationship between sisters. Additionally, Thu Trang and Tiến Luật have a massive fan base, especially with Tiến Luật's appeal following his success on Anh Trai Vượt Ngàn Chông Gai. The Million Dollar Kiss will officially hit theaters on the first day of the Lunar New Year (February 29, 2025).
