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ABC News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
The Red Envelope brings Thai popstars Billkin and PP Krit together for deeply silly queer ghost love story
If 2005 rom-com Just Like Heaven hinged on Mark Ruffalo helping the ghost of Reese Witherspoon jolt her body to life and find her one true love, Thai comedy The Red Envelope is about a man helping a ghost he has been betrothed to achieve his dream of getting married and reincarnated. It is as culturally specific as it gets. Fast Facts about The Red Envelope What: A deeply silly platonic love story between a gay ghost and a straight man Directed by: Chayanop Bonnprakob Starring: Billkin, PP Krit, Piyamas Monyakul, Anna Chuancheun Where: In cinemas now Likely to make you feel: Tickled and, despite yourself, moved The ghost is the spirit of gay man Titi, whose wishes to get married in life were thwarted by a prejudiced father. On his last day on Earth, Titi had a fight with his father and died in a hit-and-run car accident while in an anguished state. In a posthumous scheme hatched by Titi's amah (Piyamas Monyakul) — perhaps the most progressive grandma to ever live — whoever stumbles upon a red envelope with Titi's lock of hair and cut fingernails will be his husband for perpetuity. That person turns out to be Menn, a petty criminal-turned-informant who fools men and women alike in sting operations that often go wrong due to his general uselessness. Crucially, he's also a homophobic straight man, despite his penchant for masquerading as a gay man when it suits him. The Red Envelope's draw rests on its two superstar leads: Thai actor-singers PP Krit and Billkin, who play Titi and Menn respectively. This is not the first time they have acted together, however — their joint breakout roles were in the queer coming-of-age TV series I Told Sunset About You and its sequel I Promised You the Moon. The rapport between them is palpable as Menn's prejudice gives way to care and he becomes accustomed to the presence of a ghost in his apartment, while Titi discovers things about his life that shatter his understanding of himself and his loved ones. The other thing that must be said: The Red Envelope is patently ridiculous, comically overblown and absurdly camp. The low-fi special effects as Titi jumps out of photo frames and glides through the air like he is on roller-skates — I suspect this is the case, because we never see his feet — make the technology of late 90s TV adaptation Animorphs look sophisticated. The one horror scene in the film is so overdone it is ludicrous. Titi's ability to possess anyone leads to uproarious outcomes, particularly in the case of Menn. One particularly memorable scene revolves around Menn undergoing a makeover as he pretends to be a gay man in order to infiltrate a queer club — the transformation hinges on an outfit that an archetypal straight man like Menn would not be capable of conjuring. Challenged to a dance battle that is most reminiscent of White Chicks, Menn is possessed by Titi, who takes pity on him, and soon his stilted dance moves give way to stylised voguing and impeccable choreography. The emotional core of the film begins to emerge after the first act as Menn starts to work with Titi to track down his killer, a case that neatly segues into Menn's own mission to discover the identity of a drug overlord who remains at large. Motivated initially by his wish to vanquish Titi permanently from his life — the theory is that Titi will be reincarnated if he finds peace — Menn starts to discover the benefits of having a close friend, when he previously had none. The Red Envelope is a remake of 2022 Taiwanese blockbuster Marry My Dead Body, but it has a tongue-in-cheek script that references its own distinct influences, from Thai horror film Shutter to South Korean social realist drama Parasite. At times, the film struggles to balance its sillier aspects with the ever-growing seriousness of the dual mysteries that it is trying to resolve. Did it have to be 2 hours 8 minutes? Almost certainly not. Less a rom-com and more a buddy cop bromance between the unlikeliest of partners, The Red Envelope tugs on the heartstrings — particularly in a stirring climactic performance by Titi's father (Anna Chuanchuen) — even as it remains a deeply unserious film.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Miramax Secures Remake Rights To Thai Blockbuster ‘How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies'
Miramax has struck a deal for remake rights to Thai film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, a huge hit across Asia last year, which also became the first Thai movie to be shortlisted for Best International Feature at the Oscars. The deal for English-language remake rights, struck with the film's director Pat Boonnitipat and Thai powerhouse studio GDH 559, followed an intense bidding war with several other studios. Since its release in April 2024, the comedy drama has become one of the hottest properties out of Asia, grossing more than $55m, including $17m in China. More from Deadline Miramax TV Taps Carissa Hope Lynch To Lead UK & Lucy Dertavitian To Oversee MENA Daniel Battsek, Ex-Film4 Chairman And Head Of Miramax, Named President Of Film At Lincoln Center Alix Jaffe Joins Miramax As President Of Television In the U.S., the film premiered last summer at the New York Asian Film Festival, where it picked up the audience award, and has since earned a 98% Tomatometer score and 95% Popcornmeter rating. Well Go USA gave the original film a theatrical release in North America. Starring Thai singer and actor Putthipong Assaratanakul (a.k.a. Billkin), the film follows a college dropout who moves in with his ailing grandmother after her cancer diagnosis, hoping to secure her million-dollar inheritance. However, he soon finds she is no pushover and what started as a cynical race to secure her fortune soon transforms into a powerful reminder of family bonds. The remake deal was negotiated on behalf of GDH by Nelson Mok of Mokster Films, a Singapore-based investment and sales company with a primary focus on Asia-produced content. Yvette Zhuang, Miramax's SVP of International Production and Distribution who is transitioning out of her current role at the end of May, will remain closely involved as a producer on the film. Miramax said it was confident the film's 'universal appeal and deeply relatable themes' will resonate with A-list talent and audiences globally. 'A masterclass in storytelling, this is the kind of film that reminds us why we make movies,' said Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman. 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is a rare gem that manages to be hilarious, surprisingly poignant, and moving all at once. Like the original, we hope our adaptation brings generations of families to the cinema together.' The film's director Pat Boonnitipat said: 'Its success worldwide surprises me, yet it warms my heart to know that people across the world share this value—or some kind of core—that connects us beyond the identities of countries or cultures.' Producer Vanridee Pongsittisak said: 'The heart of a family is universal, but each home holds an entirely different story. That's why I'm excited to see How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies come to life once again — this time in an American household.' Miramax is coming into Cannes with a film slate that also includes the sequel to hit action film The Beekeeper, again starring Jason Statham and this time directed by Indonesia's Timo Tjahjanto; Roofman, starring Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst and Peter Dinklage; and Colman Domingo's directorial debut Scandalous, starring Sydney Sweeney and David Jonsson. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2025
Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
My Perfect Weekend with The Red Envelope's Thai director Chayanop Boonprakob
Who: Chayanop Boonprakob, 40, is a Thai director and screenwriter. He made his feature film debut with the musical comedy SuckSeed (2011), followed by the teen romantic comedy May Who? (2015). He co-directed the Love At Sundown segment as part of the acclaimed anthology A Gift (2017), and later helmed the romcom Friend Zone (2019). His latest film, The Red Envelope, is showing in Singapore cinemas. A Thai remake of the 2022 Taiwanese blockbuster Marry My Dead Body, the supernatural romantic comedy tells the story of a straight cop (Billkin) who is forced to marry a gay ghost (Krit Amnuaydechkorn) afte r picking up a red envelope. The Red Envelope is produced by Chayanop's Thai wife Pijarin Lertsaroj, 36, whom he has known for 14 years. The couple, who have no children, were in town on April 17 to promote their movie. 'Running has always been a main hobby my wife and I share. Even before we were a couple and when we were just friends , we bonded over running. We usually run in town, at a park or sometime s in another province. We're based in the outskirts of Bangkok, so we enjoy exploring new routes. A perfect Sunday for us is one when we can hit the road early after waking up at 5am, especially when the streets are quiet. We love running on the road. It is usually packed with traffic on regular days, but on weekends, it is clear and peaceful. My wife and I have been married for four years, and she was the one who inspired me to start running. We run marathons together as well. My first full marathon was the one we ran together in Moscow, Russia, in 2019. Now that we are in Singapore for The Red Envelope's premiere, we are thinking of going for a run near Marina Bay. We walked by the area recently, and it looked like a great route. I also saw many running groups pass by – some were fast-paced and some were slower. I thought we could definitely do something like that – a slow morning jog in the city. (From left) Thai director Chayanop Boonprakob, local actress Hong Huifang and local director Ong Kuo Sin at the screening of The Red Envelope. PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHAYANOP BOONPRAKOB My wife remembers jogging there years ago and spotting a group of otters crossing the street. Everyone stopped to watch, and some even played with them. After a run, we always get hungry. Eating after a workout is the best kind of meal. My wife's favourite breakfast is usually pork skewers with sticky rice. We would head to a nearby restaurant to grab a good coffee. The great thing is that by then, it is only 8 or 9am. There is still a whole day ahead. That said, we also love staying in during the weekends and we are homebodies. We moved to a new home two years ago, and I have since got into gardening. I even recently grew some banana plants.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
