User reviews

I honestly didn't expect to feel so seen by a rom-com. Each of the characters was relatable, and my husband and I caught ourselves laughing in between jokes bc we've experienced people like this in real life. It's more than a rom-com. It's a fresh take on being a FilAm, and I highly encourage everyone to watch this film.

I appreciate that this didn't punch down on any female characters. It's a relief to not see women portrayed as shrill or mean-spirited. As a Filipina, It's refreshing. Bonus points for not making the Filipino accent the center of the humor. It's a tired trope, and I'm glad that it was nowhere to be found here.

Highlights true New York lifestyle and empowering for women- Cyranoesque in parts while uplifting in the same breath. Develops a fresh approach towards navigating divorce with many comedic moments. Uniquely canvasses the city experience incorporating some very special foodie spots. No spoilers but not your typical romcom. Well casted and made me laugh out loud more than once. Lighthearted yet dissecting on an emotional topic. The bond between male and female friendship is well established via some interesting selection of supportive situations. Most romcoms have a typical plot - not the case here. Looking forward to more from Jhett and Mike.

Asian Persuasion is a romantic comedy about a recently divorced couple, where the ex-husband sets up his ex-wife to remarry, in an attempt to get out from under an onerous alimony decree.

Will husband's zany plan to love-coach the new man dating his ex-wife work? Or will the exes get back together? How does Kevin Kreider (the hottie from Bling Empire in his scripted acting debut) figure into all of this?

I won't reveal any spoilers here, but I can confirm this is a rom com through and through. There are multiple characters falling in and out of love - and even Prince Charming (actor Paolo Montalban from the Cinderella reboot has a supporting role).

That said, the real love story is with food, NY and childhood dreams. There are delicious shots of ube pancakes sprinkled throughout the film. There are also close-ups of street signs indicating Filipino parts of Queens, NY, as well as other NYC landmarks such as the Museum of the Moving Image or Chinese Tuxedo. Finally, both lead characters are creatives (ex-husband is a chef, ex-wife is a fashion designer), and their childhood aspirations figure prominently in why they fell in and out of love.

Asian Persuasion is a fun, multi-layered film with a tight ensemble cast.

It is always a difficult task to like Filipino films. They usually are overly melodramatic (mostly from Star Cinema, Regal Films, Viva Films). Plots that you already know, heard and seen before. And VERY predictable endings!

Asian Persuasion renewed my fate in Filipino filmmakers. A lot of thoughts were put into the development of this project. It is pretty obvious in the intentionality of the storytelling to its execution. So many remarkable scenes that blew me away. And it's a low-budget independent film shot during a pandemic!

Impressive for freshmen filmmaker duo, screenwriter Mike Ang and director Jhett Tolentino!

This is a cute rom com that put a smile on my face! The cast is fresh and dynamic, especially the little girl that played Avery's daughter. She always had the perfect timing and expression. I loved that it was set in New York City and how everything was so recognizable to me. The director, Jhett Tolentino shows how talented he is, in his directorial debut. He certainly creates beautiful scenes. I'm looking forward to seeing more from him. The cast had a nice chemistry with one another. You can tell they worked well together. It's also refreshing to see so many talented Asian people working on the same film. Kudos to the cast and crew!

Set in New York in today's genre acted out by SUPERBLY talented artists and directed by the PHENOMENAL JHETT TOLENTINO. What an outstanding creation, a work of art, a breath of fresh air actually, not like most melodramatic Filipino films. I laughed and cried at the same time and giggled too. Most of the content of the movie was very relatable especially living in New York.

It also did not linger on a specific topic. It just flowed seamlessly from one scene to another. Just brilliant.

I pray it will be shown in more theaters next year. I'll definitely watch it again. Watch it when it airs near you.

Unconventional and thought-provoking. Very unlikely for this genre. I found myself smiling, chuckling, giggling and laughing along with other people in the audience in the theater. Even self-reflection! It's very rare for any film to make me feel that way. And some.

It's an overall great film but the soundtrack for me is the lagniappe. I hope the production will come up with it pretty soon! I tried to look them up but I ended up with no result. Please produce the official soundtrack in whatever form - disc, vinyl or online. I'll buy it for sure!

This is the kind of rom-com that I'm looking for. I can watch this film over and over and over again. Perfection!

My boyfriend and I enjoyed this fun and creative movie directed by Jhett Torentino. The actors and venues for the scenes were carefully selected and captivated the audience every minute of the film. It is no surprise that his talented creative production won him the prestigious awards that he received for this film. The plot was easy to follow and yet you were still pleasantly surprised with the cleverness and profound meanings behind the storyline. The soundtrack was carefully selected and each song had harmony with its corresponding scene. A fantastic film to go see! We look forward to his future projects.

Without giving the movie away, I can only share that the movie is akin to "Friends with Benefits" and those series of teen movies from the early 2000s but without sex scenes though. I'm talking about how you would feel at the end of the movie. After laughing your ass off and enjoying yourself - by yourself or with the company of friends.

It's a feel good movie about Asians Americans but not so heavy on the Asian cultures. Everyone can relate to this honest movie about "making it" career-wise.

On a separate note, I'm so proud of all those involved In making this film happen - in the midst of a pandemic. Major brava/o to all!

Captivating, heartfelt, and funny, Asian Persuasion redefines Asian representation in Hollywood. Its clever plot blends romantic comedy with cultural reflection, exploring love, identity, and family in a genuine, relatable way. The witty dialogue, strong performances, and a vibrant soundtrack create a film that balances humor with emotional depth. Directed with care and featuring a diverse cast, this refreshing rom-com is more than just entertaining; it offers a thoughtful take on modern relationships while celebrating Asian culture and representation. A must-watch for fans of smart, feel-good films.

With a combination of comedy, feel-good moments, and likable characters (even if they don't always do the right thing :)), Asian Persuasion put a smile on my face. It's an enjoyable experience for people of all kinds, Asian or not, but Asian Americans, in particular, feel seen and heard. Jhett Tolentino's directorial debut is successful in visual story telling and Mike Ang's personal, yet exaggerated and lighthearted writing brings his personal experience to life in a digestible and satisfying way. It's extremely hard not to root for the main cast even in their morally gray endeavors which is a testament to the charisma that comes through the screen. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience.

I give this movie the highest rating because I am Vietnamese haven't yet seen a movie that has a ton of Asian people in it that doesn't portray them in a stereotypical manner. We need to support films like this that normalize our representation on screen and that are more about the story than they are about stereotypes. This is, in fact, the best way to show how Asian culture can be a seamless part of another culture, in this case, the American culture of New York City! We are all much more similar than we think! The music was also great and the actors all relatable in some way to people I know - Asian and Non-Asian alike. I love the plot twist and the crazy madcap antics throughout the film! Definitely some surprises in there... Go watch it!!! You won't be disappointed! Kudos to the whole team of 21 Asian nations that worked to bring this to life!!!