LOVESICK (有病才会喜欢你) (2025)

Genre: Action/Thriller
Director:  Fu-Hsiang Hsu
Cast: Zhan Huai-Yun, Victoria Chiang, Hsiu-Fu Liu
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language)
Released By: mm2 Entertainment
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 1 May 2025

Synopsis: Zijie, a rebellious teen, discovers that pretending to be terminally ill earns him unexpected perks - sympathy, freedom, and the chance to skip out on life’s pressures. But his web of lies takes an unexpected turn when he meets Yezi, a brilliant classmate who seems perfectly healthy yet hides a painful truth - she's the one who’s actually dying. As their worlds collide, the faker and the fragile form a bond neither expected, embarking on a bittersweet journey to complete each other’s bucket lists before time runs out.

Movie Review:

This Taiwanese film weaves together familiar tropes you’ve likely seen before. First, there’s the female protagonist battling a devastating illness (it’s leukemia here), setting the stage for a bittersweet love story. Then comes a playful twist: the male lead shares a name that sounds identical to hers in Chinese, leading to a string of charming misunderstandings.

Add to that a male supporting character with epilepsy, creating room for a secondary narrative thread that’s tear-inducing. And finally, there’s the story’s most whimsical element - a postbox submerged deep underwater. This dreamy and symbolic object paves the way for a beautifully cinematic dive toward fulfilling a heartfelt wish.

These are elements of a feel-good Taiwanese high school romance drama, but thanks to its charming leads, we are not feeling that it is a drag to watch.

Zhan Huai-Yun, who previously charmed audiences as the dreamy bellboy enamoured with a washed-up actress in the TV drama Born for the Spotlight, once again leans into his boyish appeal as Zijie, a high school student and resident class clown. He’s the classic lovable troublemaker, the kind who always seems to wriggle out of trouble. But behind the carefree grin lies a past that’s left him unwilling to believe in the promise of the future.

Starring opposite Zhan is Victoria Chiang as the other Zijie, a disciplined class monitress and model student tasked with keeping him in check. Following a hospital mix-up after an accident, everyone believes that the mischievous Zijie is terminally ill.

Unbeknownst to him, it's actually the responsible and kind-hearted monitress who is quietly battling a life-threatening illness. Adding drama to the narrative is Chen Li, a soft-spoken junior played with wide-eyed sincerity by Liu Hsiu-Fu (last seen in Nelicia Low’s fencing thriller Pierce), who also appears to be grappling with a condition that stands in the way of his dreams.

With this trio of heartfelt stories, the film delivers a story that will delight fans of the genre, guaranteeing lighthearted smiles to tearful, tender moments.

Dripping with charm, this 111-minute film directed by Fu-Hsiang Hsu makes the most of its youthful cast and the heartfelt chemistry between them, drawing viewers into their emotional journeys. Zhan lights up the screen every time he appears, and the filmmakers don’t shy away from using his charisma to set hearts fluttering - and that includes having him go topless in some scenes. Chiang, a relative newcomer, brings a fresh-faced sincerity to her role. Her warmth and quiet strength make it easy to believe that hearts as kind as hers are a rare find these days.

The film is filled with moments that will transport you back to the carefree days of school. For the boys, it’s the thrill of harmless pranks and the innocent excitement of crushing on the prettiest girl in class. For the girls, it’s the exasperation at the boys’ antics, and also the conversations about dreams, ambitions, and what life might look like after graduation.

With a photogenic cast and a story full of emotion and charm, this is the perfect feel-good film to lose yourself in—especially when life feels a little too overwhelming.

Movie Rating:

(A familiar yet feel-good Taiwanese high school drama elevated by the charming on-screen chemistry of charismatic leads Zhan Huai-Yun and Victoria Chiang)

Review by John Li