‘Five Blind Dates’ Review – This Rom-Com Spills The Tea

The Prime Video romantic comedy Five Blind Dates was tailor-made for anyone who enjoys dating reality shows—the kind that is so popular today, such as The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Love at First Sight, and 90 Day Fiance. Five Blind Dates combines those elements for its main character, who seeks to find love on their own terms.

The script follows Lia (Ronny Chieng: International Student’s Shuang Hu), a Chinese Australian woman who runs a fine tea shop. She berates anyone looking for “bubble” tea, calling it the macarena of liquid herbal delights. Her best friend, Mason (Ilai Swindells), tells her everyone loves the macarena. (How old is this script, or is Los Del Río really big Down Under?)

Lia flies back home for her sister’s wedding and realizes she cannot attend alone without a date. She adds that her failing tea shop will only succeed once she gets her personal life in order. (Yeah, I didn’t get that thought process either.) Her father (Tigertail’s Tzi Ma) sets her up with a billionaire (Desmond Chiam), and her mother, Jing (Renee Lim), sets her up with a man her age who likes old things.

However, Lia then runs into Richard (Plane’s Yoson An), the best man at the wedding and her childhood friend. Like most romantic-comedy clichés, the script has them cutely run into each other. Of course, it’s at a costume party where she spills her drink on him. Richard is dressed as Ducky from Pretty in Pink, and Lia is wearing a black suit. Instead of guessing she’s Elwood from the Blues Brothers, he correctly guesses Mr. Pink from Reservoir Dogs.

Frankly, the fact they can guess each other’s favorite movie characters made me think they should have eloped right then and there. That’s the kind of movie Five Blind Dates is, and no one makes an apology for it. Directed by Shawn Seet (The Code) and written by Hu and Nathan Ramos-Park (Ero), the movie ends exactly how you think it will.

This should be fine for everyone who is a genre fan; it just lacks the pleasure of letting the story unfold in front of you. The real draw is the charming performance from Hu, who is put through the emotional ringer in private and professional life, and the comedic scenarios that unfold from them. Hu and An have an undeniable romantic tension, and the chemistry comes across on screen.

Five Blind Dates is only worth watching if you are a genre fan. Or, at the very least, looking for a light, quick diversion. The script is full of tropes. For example, the outgoing best friend who borders on annoying. Additionally, you have your typical cardboard cutout male supporting characters. (However, you will find Chiam’s Apollo particularly amusing.) Nevertheless, this is to be expected.

The film does have a nice balance. The almost completely Asian ensemble is perfectly cast. The script employs a few nice cultural touches, including why Hu’s Lia finds her business so important. At the film’s core is the film’s central character, who ameliorates her circumstances with her professional and personal lives by reconnecting with her family.

At the very least, that message shines through.

Five Blind Dates is currently available to stream exclusively on Prime Video.