Okay, here’s the review as promised. Nasi Lemak 2.0 was produced by Prodigee Media and was directed by Namewee. Bluntly and harshly put, Nasi Lemak 2.0 is definitely not for bimbos, himbos, and people who lack intelligence. If you’re a bimbo, himbo or someone who don’t really follow what’s going on in Malaysia, then this movie is a plain, nonsensical comedy with loads of computer effects about someone who is just trying to make the best nasi lemak to you. You’ll need some functional brain to decipher the real meaning behind Nasi Lemak 2.0. Truthfully, it’s not just a musical comedy with RPG game quest-like storyline.
Professionally put, this movie is an artfully directed and a very patriotic movie. Nasi Lemak 2.0 is very colourful, exquisitely scripted, thought provoking and highly inspirational-but not in a bad way that most skeptics have been expecting before the launching of this movie. Definitely not in a bad way, I can vouch for that.
This movie is very thought provoking and tells alot of social issues that we may and may not be aware of. There’s a lot of hidden messages and methaphor in this movie. Even the characters’ physical appearance actually means something in Nasi Lemak 2.0.
There’s much to be said about Nasi Lemak 2.0. I’ll try to review it without revealing too much spoilers.
The movie starts off with the subtle questioning of why most people in Malaysia still define themselves by ethnicity, and why they are too proud of themselves when they are actually nobody and refused to be humble? Viewers are also questioned on why one refuse to improvise and prefers to stay in their comfort zone, even when the occasion calls for it.
Chef Huang (Namewee), the main character in this movie represent someone who is too proud of his own ethnicity and refuse to acknowledge that he is actually a true Malaysian. He is always too proud with the fact that he’s a Chinese, and refused to learn new things and be humble, even though he’s on the verge of being a beggar on the street and whatnot. Simply put, Chef Huang is a character that represent a lot of people in Malaysia who are still too proud of their own ethnicity and have tendency to discriminate others.
A lot issues including plagiarism and terrible command of English was portrayed through various characters like the journalist and Xiao K’s uncle, and at some point, Nasi Lemak 2.0 poked fun at various service providers in Malaysia as well for their incompetency to provide competitive service just because they monopoly the market. Eg: TMnet and TNB.
Anyway, the story proceeds with Chef Huang being jobless. Then enters Xiao K, an ugly girl who constantly bug Chef Huang to help her to save her family business from falling to the hands of her unscrupulous aunt. Xiao K is a very kind hearted girl, but Chef Huang called her a nuisance because she’s ugly and throughout the movie, he’s portrayed as someone who loves to judge people by the way they look and through their ethnicity- again, something that a lot of us tends to do.
Chef Huang eventually relented and decided to change to be a better man with the help of Xiao K. Slowly, he started to be humble and gradually, he begin to comes out from his comfort zone by learning to cook something new apart from just cooking his Chinese fried rice-nasi lemak. Throughout his journey and his quest to search for the best nasi lemak recipe, he met alot of charismatic people who taught him various things in life through their recipe.
There is a lot of moral values in this story-reflected and portrayed by various characters, and it’s up to the viewers to interpret each and every one of it. Nasi Lemak 2.0 is a movie that teaches you to be humble, not discriminate as well as stereotyping. Family values and the importance of family ties and living in harmony with each other are included in this movie too.
Viewers are also encouraged to follow their dreams, forgive those who have wronged you and not judge people by the way they look or define them by their ethnicity. And if one watched closely enough, another message that’s included in this movie is to be brave enough to admit your mistakes, apologize and do the right thing by making an effort to correct your mistakes. People are also encouraged to give a second chance to people who have made terrible mistakes in their life.
I like how wonderful messages like “Money is the root of all evil” and “Why can’t we just get along? We’re all the same despite of our skin colour and the language that we speak” were interwoven so delicately in this movie. It’s very subtle and delicately put, and when the movie comes to an end, I’m amazed by how most of the characters have grown and changed to be a better version of themselves.
This movie is highly dynamic.
Apart from being highly educational and inspirational, this movie is also humourously sarcastic and highly entertaining. It comes with a lot of nice soundtrack and catchy dancing scenes, just like a Bollywood movie.
Is this movie worth your money to watch in the cinema? Well…if you’re not a bimbo or a himbo, yes, this movie is worth your money to watch. It is not only entertaining, but it’s full of moral values as well. This is a five star movie to watch, and I’d say I doff my hat for the director’s editing skills as well. It’s flawless despite the fact that this movie is a low budget movie. This movie will be screening in Malaysia on 8th September. And if you’re worried about this movie being infested vulgar languages and expletives, rest assured that there’s not a single vulgar word were uttered in this movie. I’m not sure what’s the rating of this movie, but to be safe, I’d just say it’s PG-13.
Here’s the official trailer for Nasi Lemak 2.0
And below is Nasi Lemak 2.0 theme song, Rasa Sayang 2.0 by Namewee and Karen Kong.
Amazing enough, another set of message was interwoven in the theme song. Unlike the the movie itself that concentrate on teaching people to be humble, don’t judge people by their appearance, don’t discriminate and live righteously, the theme song tries to persuade people to be patriotic and not to forget their root. Do click on the videos and enjoy.
If you’re interested to find out more about Nasi Lemak 2.0, CLICK HERE to go to the official Nasi Lemak 2.0 website.
You can also LIKE the official Nasi Lemak 2.0 Facebook page HERE.
Cleffairy: Kindly do not plagiarize this movie review. If you feel that you need to quote whatever I’ve written, do make a point to give credit to me. Thank you.
I’d rather go and eat the real nasi lemak…
Dun be like me… eat 3-4 times per week. Cholesterol kao kao. LOL!
eh… kangen sama itu nasi lemak yg lu beli kat tasik titiwangsa lah…
Lu mau makan ka? Wokay, will belanja u makan that, but have to tunggu after raya abit…now that feller balik kampung for raya liao, I tink after 1 more wik will have that nasi lemak again. 😀
Sounds interesting… dont mind watching it but at home lar.. lazy to go cineplex.. gosh.. how unpatriotic i sound.. hahaha…
Watch at home la better… can watch over and over again. 😀
As expected, Namewee sure patriotic and politic drifted one, lol! Gonna watch this movie liao, support M’sia mar!
Go watch lo… darn funny wan.
sure will watch but mayb will watch twice like malaysian movie Greatday coz its nice and the message in the movie very deep and indeed happen in our society…in other word my way to support nice movie…haha
Happy Birthday!!! 😉
Hmm… nasi lemak 2.0 quite nice to watch…can watch la if you’re into this kind of thing… but if ur into action movie and stuff…den if watch this one u will feel sien lo.
I couldn’t admit that, namewee is a most outstanding young man in Malaysia, I would go to cinema to support him, as a young man perspective.
😀 he’s the kind of person you either will like, or just hate. i happen to like his works. 😀
nasi lemak 1!!! 😀
will go try hit the cinema if i could.. 🙂
It can be viewed nationwide today. 😀 Got ur tickets yet?
I’m never proud of my own race but I’m proud with namewee’s work.
I’m proud of his work as a Malaysian. Not exactly proud of my own race too…
Very well written preview. My preview on my blog after watching the movie are a little way off I guess but still generally ok ..lol…Those who have yet to watch please go and spend a well worth 90 minutes rather then lepaking elsewhere.
Thanks for your compliment, Richard. 😀
Namewee touched me with his undying love for Malaysia, a country that most of her citizens deemed “cheap” and “low-class”. I hope will the beginning of the flourishing epoch of malaysian-made movies!
SUPPORT NAMEWEE 🙂
Alot of people dun like him. I suppose some of my own readers dun like him too… but for what it’s worth, he actually did something and speak up instead of just moaning and groaning on social media, mamak stalls and whatnot. Kudos to Namewee.
Damn Fucking Nice Movies!!!!!!!!
how to share ur this post on facebook? where is the like and share button???
in the song was he trying to say sorry for what he post on youtube? anyways, great movie, love the song (especially rasa sayang and curry neh) and i think at least he is voicing it out in a more well mannered way
5 star rated movie… well, i definitely not bimbo or himbo and i am a chinese Malaysian… I neither like or hate namewee… i think the movie tends to copy other movies (dont you think so) and hence lack of originality. in my opinion, the movie is neither humor and the ending is an easy guess (lack of plot). yes, it is indeed a low budget movie as most of the actor and actress are not professional (bad casting). overall, it is still a truly Malaysian movie…
Lots of cheap humors. Offensive and racists in many ways. Not suitable for non-Malaysian.