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The Billionaire

Even if no one told me, it's so obvious that this film is an adaptation from a play. The story, the way its direction, the direction and diction; everything has the words 'play' an d'theatre' written all over it. So, as you can imagine, the film is all about conversations and dialogues; which I feel I might have enjoyed in a theatre setting but as a film, it just tested my patience which its scenes that went on forever and ever and just not so funny dialogues (for a film that is supposed to be romance and comedy).

Victor is an exceedingly prudish and narcissist young gay billionaire of Sri Lankan descent, who is an old school romantic at heart and probably asexual. His father had set conditions for any man who wanted to marry him - the suitor must turn $10,000 into $3 million in 6 months. His first spouse Alex - an amateur boxing champion - had passed the test, but their marriage has since collapsed, and Alex is already involved with another guy who calls himself "Thong-hunter" on social media. The film starts with Victor reaching out to lawyer to write his will. Over the course of the film, Victor subsequently meets a handsome and almost ascetically religious French American doctor who strikes him as spouse material for being very pure and pristine. But he is surprised to discover, that the doctor's deceased religious mother had set her own daunting conditions for any man who wished to marry her son! In this case, the doctor's suitor must make his living alone and unaided for 6 months with only 100 euros to start with. For the first time in his life, Victor resolves to swallow his pride, and do whatever it takes to achieve his happily ever after - even seeking work in a sweatshop! Things become more complicated when one of Victor's ex-boyfriends threatens a lawsuit for assault. Now both Victor and the doctor need to pass their respective parents' tests. Are they really soul-mates after all, in spite of the perceived incompatibility between a mighty billionaire and a humble doctor? 

As mentioned, a story like this is best suited for a play. If you want to convert it to a fly, I would say that at least make an effort to make it a film like experience. Sure you can choose exotic locations but the interactions itself feel so theatrical, its almost like watching a play but on TV. I understand that character of Victor is supposed to be prudish, full of himself, over the top and the actor actually does an amazing job of portraying that character, but personally for me, rather than bringing the laughs, it was just annoying me very much. In stark contrast, all the other characters at least felt more natural. I was quite focused on the film for the first 30 minutes but that scene or act in the lawyer's office goes on and on and soon enough I knew what the film is gonna be like in terms of execution and presentation. But I still had to see it through to know what the story is but trust me, it was really hard to focus once you had given up on the lead. The film redeems itself in the second half with its proper love story and what not, but somehow this was not my cup of tea. I think, on any other day and in a better mental space, I may have enjoyed it. Little more, but still at almost 2 hours length, this film feels way longer than it actually should be. (3.5/10)

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