A GOOD FORTUNE (百万红包) (2026)

Genre: Comedy
Director: Jason Lee
Cast: Xixi Lim, Wang Weiliang, Lau Leng Leng, Patricia Mok, Henry Thia, Adele Wong, Usha Seamkhum
Runtime: 1 hr 28 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Sexual References)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 29 January 2026

Synopsis: Having fled to Malaysia after falling victim to a scam, Kai Xin, a struggling Singaporean influencer played by Xixi Lim, unexpectedly reunites with Zi Hao, played by Wang Weiliang, the boy who once stood up for her when no one else did. A series of comical mishaps and chance encounters follow as the duo navigates a high-stakes, million-dollar pineapple-tart competition organised by a Thai matriarch. Together, they bake their way through a million-dollar pineapple-tart competition - and discover what “good fortune” truly means.

Movie Review:

It’s that time of year again when cinemas are filled with festive releases vying for your ang pow money — light-hearted, star-studded films designed to match the celebratory mood of Chinese New Year. Among this year’s lineup is A Good Fortune, a Singaporean production released just over two weeks ahead of the Chinese New Year rush, aiming to be part of the seasonal tradition of feel-good films that families can watch together.

A thoughtful opening monologue touches on the Causeway between Singapore and Malaysia, portraying the bridge not just as physical infrastructure but as a symbolic pathway for people who commute back and forth — whether for work or to reunite with family during festive seasons — setting the tone for a story rooted in family connections.

Directed by Jason Lee, A Good Fortune marks his first feature film, following years of shorts and independent work. Lee reportedly made this as a fully independent, self-funded passion project, backed by sheer determination and creative vision. His leap into a Chinese New Year movie feels like a strategic and heartfelt choice: the genre’s broad appeal and box-office potential provide the perfect canvas for a story about resilience, luck, and family ties during the most festive period of the year.

The storyline centres on Kai Xin, a struggling Singaporean influencer who flees across the Causeway to Malaysia with her mother after getting into trouble with loan sharks. In Malaysia, she unexpectedly reunites with her former classmate Zi Hao, the boy who once stood up for her when nobody else did. The pair are drawn into a million-dollar pineapple tart competition — a contest that carries both financial promise and symbolic weight in the context of Chinese New Year, where pineapple tarts are often associated with prosperity and good luck.

Headlining the film are Xixi Lim and Wang Weiliang. Xixi Lim’s bubbly screen presence will delight her fans; she embodies Kai Xin with a vibrant, relatable charm that matches the film’s upbeat, festive spirit. Wang Weiliang, better known for his comedy performances, surprisingly heads into more dramatic territory here, delivering several emotional scenes with sincerity. Their chemistry grounds the film’s heart and is undeniably sweet.

Joining them are familiar comedy faces Lau Leng Leng and Patricia Mok, whose performances brighten up moments that could otherwise feel slow or predictable. The film’s big draw, however, is Usha Seamkhum in her second feature film appearance — following her wildly popular turn in How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024) — adding international flavour as a formidable Thai matriarch overseeing the competition.

While A Good Fortune offers nothing revolutionary in the crowded genre of Chinese New Year movies, it remains a no-frills, 88-minute treat that families can share in the cinema with laughter and warmth. There are funny lines — such as the joke about ten people being needed just to kidnap Kai Xin’s character — though some quips do slow the pace slightly. Still, the film’s heart and humour make it a decent festive effort by Lee, and a reminder of why audiences continue to flock to feel-good films this time of year.

Movie Rating:

(An easygoing festive comedy filled with familiar faces and family laughs, made more endearing as Jason Lee’s commendable debut feature)

Review by John Li