Watch Front Cover

Front Cover is a heartwarming and funny romantic comedy-drama directed by Ray Yeung. Released in 2015, it stars Jake Choi as Ryan Fu, a fashion stylist who is hired to work on the cover shoot of a prestigious fashion magazine. But this isn't just any job - Ryan must work with a hotshot Chinese movie star named Ning (James Chen), who is flying over to New York for the shoot. Ryan, who is Chinese-American, sees working with Ning as an opportunity to reach out to his cultural roots, while Ning sees the shoot as an opportunity to break into the American market. However, as they start working together, Ryan and Ning realize that they have a lot more in common than they thought.

Ryan is a young, stylish and hipster character who lives in Brooklyn with his mother. Ryan comes from a conservative family but rejects his family's traditions and often gets into arguments with his mother. This dynamic is explored in the film as Ryan tries to navigate the expectations of his traditional family and his personal ambitions. Ryan is an ambitious and passionate stylist who has dreams of working in the fashion industry at the highest levels, but he is not fully fulfilled. He is somewhat insecure, struggling with the prospect of being a gay Asian-American in a competitive fashion industry that celebrates whiteness.

Ning is a hotshot Chinese movie star who is coming to America to shoot the cover of the fashion magazine. Ning is confident and charming, with a lot of swagger. However, Ning is also hiding secrets about his true self, and he can be emotionally guarded. Through Ning's journey, the film explores themes of identity and belonging as he grapples with both his Chinese and American identity.

As the movie progresses, we see these two characters grow closer together, beginning as mere colleagues but ending up with a deep connection. The relationship between Ryan and Ning is the heart of the film, but it is also a groundbreaking one. It's incredibly rare to see a film with an Asian male lead in a romantic role, and Front Cover breaks barriers in representation.

One of the most striking things about Front Cover is that it achieves so much without ever feeling exploitative or heavy-handed. The film is understated, but it never shies away from big feelings, and it's full of small, authentic moments. The film succeeds in creating a nuanced portrayal of the Chinese-American experience, exploring how identity and family play such a crucial role in shaping a person's sense of self.

Another fascinating aspect of Front Cover is that it dives deeply into the world of high fashion, showing how the industry operates behind the scenes. Ryan's job as a stylist takes center stage, and we see him working through different looks and outfits for Ning's cover shoot. The film is a visual triumph, with lots of stunning shots of New York and impressive wardrobe choices.

Front Cover is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with its characters. It's an incredible achievement and a must-watch film for anyone interested in romance, representation, or just a good story. Overall, Front Cover is a film that tackles important themes in a relatable way, utilizing the relationship between the characters to explore what it means to be who you are.

Front Cover is a 2016 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 52.