If You Are the One

Synopsis

"If You Are the One" is a 2008 New Year comedy film directed by Feng Xiaogang, starring Ge You, Shu Qi, and Fan Wei. It tells the romantic story of Qin Fen, a returnee from abroad, who meets flight attendant Xiaoxiao through online dating. With a Douban rating of 7.3 and a box office of 325 million yuan, it is Feng Xiaogang's powerful return to New Year comedies.

Overview

"If You Are the One" is a Chinese New Year comedy film released in December 2008, directed by Feng Xiaogang. It stars Ge You and Shu Qi, with supporting roles by Fan Wei, Alex Fong, Hu Ke, Feng Yuanzheng, and others. The film has a runtime of 130 minutes, a Douban rating of 7.3, and a box office revenue of approximately 325 million RMB in mainland China, making it the box office champion of the 2008-2009 New Year season. The film marked Feng Xiaogang's return to the New Year comedy genre after "The Banquet" and "Assembly."

The film tells the humorous story of a returnee inventor's experience with online dating, while also weaving in a touching tale about love and obsession. Using his signature Beijing-style humor, Feng Xiaogang vividly portrays the emotional dilemmas of contemporary urbanites and the culture of matchmaking.

Plot

Qin Fen (played by Ge You), a returnee from abroad, invents a comical product called the "Divergent End Machine," which is unexpectedly bought by a venture capitalist for 2 million pounds, making him rich overnight. With money in hand, Qin Fen decides to settle down and posts a personal ad online, embarking on a hilarious journey to find a spouse.

During his search, Qin Fen encounters a variety of women—a cemetery salesperson, a girl with amnesia, a pregnant woman carrying someone else's child, and even a former male classmate. Each blind date contributes a side-splitting comedic segment.

At a party, Qin Fen meets the beautiful flight attendant Xiaoxiao (played by Shu Qi). Xiaoxiao is deeply in love with a married man, but after years of unrequited affection, she is unable to gain any commitment, leaving her heartbroken. Qin Fen is moved by Xiaoxiao's beauty and sincerity, but she only sees him as a friend, not a romantic partner.

The two reach an agreement: Qin Fen will accompany Xiaoxiao on a trip to Hokkaido to help her find closure in her painful relationship. During their journey in Hokkaido, Qin Fen gradually warms Xiaoxiao's wounded heart with his humor and sincerity. Facing the sea at a cliffside, Xiaoxiao finally lets go of her past obsession. At the end of the film, the two come together, but their journey is far from over.

Cast

Cultural Impact

After its release, "If You Are the One" sparked a wave of discussion about matchmaking culture in China. Although Qin Fen's dating experiences are exaggerated, they reflect the real dilemmas faced by many contemporary urbanites—successful in career but unable to find a suitable partner. Many classic lines and scenes from the film became popular catchphrases of the year.

The film also unexpectedly boosted tourism in Hokkaido. The filming locations featured in the movie, including the Otaru Canal and Biei's Blue Pond, attracted a large number of Chinese tourists after its release. This phenomenon of films driving tourism became known as the "If You Are the One" effect.

Ge You's performance maintained the consistent standard of Feng Xiaogang's films—subtle,恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到好处的恰到