Formula 17

Critics Consensus

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Formula 17 Photos

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Movie Info

A young man learns some lessons about life and love the hard way in this frothy gay-themed romantic comedy-drama from Taiwan. Tien (Tony Tang) is a gay teenager who decides to leave the small town where he grew up and strike out for the bright lights of Taipei. As it happens, several of Tien's old friends have already made the trip, including Yu (King Chin), who tends bar at a gay club; gym rat Alan (Jimmy Yang); and aggressively style-conscious CC (Dada Ji). Tien's old friends are eager to show him the town when he arrives in Taipei, but when he sets his gaze on handsome Bai (Duncan), they all warn him away, telling him Bai is a notorious player who is sure to leave him with a broken heart. However, the fates keep bringing Tien and Bai together, and in time they end up spending the night. True to form, Bai abandons Tien the next day, and soon Tien's pals begin hatching a scheme to get Bai back in Tien's arms for the sake of his happiness.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Art House & International, Comedy
Directed By:

Yin-jung Chen, D.J. Chen
Written By:

Rady Fu
In Theaters:

Aug 19, 2005 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Nov 29, 2005
Runtime:

93 minutes
Studio:

Strand Releasing

Cast

Tony Yang
as Tien

Duncan Chow
as Bai Tieh-nan

Duncan
as Bai

Chin King
as Yu

Dada Ji
as C.C.

Jimmy Yang
as Alan

Jason Chang
as Jun

Ladder Yu
as Kevin

Guan-Jie Huang
as Jay

Tze-Long Yang
as Taipei Plumber

Jeff Locker
as Ray

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Critic Reviews for Formula 17

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (7)

Neophyte director DJ Chen's formulaic film leaves little doubt.

Aug 26, 2005 | Rating: 2/4

V.A. Musetto
New York Post
Top Critic
The only real surprise about this cheerful gay romance is that such a silly movie was such a smash hit in its native Taiwan.

Aug 26, 2005 | Rating: 2/4

Elizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily News
Top Critic
A fresh, sweet-natured affair with an attractive young cast.

Aug 25, 2005 | Full Review…

David Rooney
Variety
Top Critic
A silly-sweet, gay romantic comedy aimed primarily at teenage and college-age audiences.

Aug 25, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Jeannette Catsoulis
New York Times
Top Critic
Mark my words: There is no way an innocent like Tien and a Meat Loaf-style heartthrob like Bai could ever make a love thing happen.

Aug 23, 2005 | Full Review…

Akiva Gottlieb
Village Voice
Top Critic
Presents such a barrage of grotesquely mugging, swishy stereotypes, coupled with a total lack of wit or style, that mere minutes into it, you are groaning and peering at your watch.

Mar 1, 2007 | Full Review…

David Noh
Film Journal International
It's total escapism, and, for a movie about losing one's virginity, surprisingly chaste

Aug 30, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Don Willmott
Filmcritic.com
Not for the cynical, this is one of those flicks where love happens at first glance and the cad has a heart of gold.

Aug 19, 2005 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

E! Staff
E! Online

View All Critic Reviews (9)

Audience Reviews for Formula 17

Apr 06, 2015

A revenge romantic comedy about life and love for a gay teen in Taiwan. Can't believe this crap was a box office hit.

Sylvester K Super Reviewer
Jul 28, 2009

A 2004 Taiwanese film which was directed by Chen Yin-jung (Âfu). It stars Tony Yang (kCJ), Duncan (üQB), King Chin (àÎ), Dada Ji (GGS), Jimmy Yang (kr¾), and Jason Chang (£åûã). Poor atempt to make some kind of a gay romantic comedy about Chou T'ien-Tsai, a romantic Taiwanese male who takes a trip to visit an online boyfriend in person for the first time. This film was banned in Singapore because it "portrayed homosexuality as normal, and a natural progression of society" and it bothered me that no female was in any of the roles, like that's normal! I'll have to say that this sad work is deffinitely not art work - it's just a movie to make gay community feel better for the things they are doing. Some kind of Gay propaganda that being with a man is fun for young guys... I'll stick to the old values, and in this case agree with the Singaporean government!

Panta O Super Reviewer