Based on the novel by Abigail Hing Wen (quite loosely, based on some reviews), Love in Taipei is one of those streamer/TV movies that feels like it plays it extremely safe on every level, resulting in a movie that feels more like a product than something worth engaging with. If you’ve seen High School Musical or any generic romcom in the past 25 years, you’ve seen this movie. The only difference might be that this both looks and feels like a mid-2000’s live-action Nickelodeon movie.

 

Even then, performances are usually better than those. Outside of Ross Butler, who gives a strong charismatic performance, every other actor never feels like never feels like they’re performing but instead just reciting dialogue at whatever speed it needs to be delivered. Top it off with a voice-over narration that feels as wordy as a novel to the point of overexplaining something that is already being explained visually, I’m sorry to report that almost every line delivery seemingly attempts to numb the mind, making the whole movie feel cheap despite how good the exterior shots look.

 

Look, if you love generic, made-for-TV romcoms, then you’ll be right at home here. If you’re looking for something worth your time… Well, let’s just say there might be a reason Paramount+ didn’t market this much.