A romantic comedy can be bad enough. One starring Miriam Yeung is an even more dicey proposition, as she can be one of the most annoying actresses to screech her way across the jade screen. Shockingly, even through this jaded and grizzled reviewer's eyes, Hooked On You is an enjoyable movie that even people that normally aren't into this type of release can enjoy, despite the lack of gratuitous sex, ultraviolence, and foul language.

In the movie, Miriam plays Mui, a woman who wants to find her perfect job and husband before she turns thirty, but finds herself working in a market as a fishmonger in order to pay off her father's (Stanley Fung) gambling debts. Her main rival in the market is fellow fish hawker Fishman (Eason Chan), who takes every opportunity to rub Mui's nose in his wealth. As you might guess by the type of film, the two eventually develop feelings for each other, and seem destined to live happily together -- or will they?

Though Hooked On You follows many cliches of the romantic comedy genre, there is a refreshing sense of reality present here that makes the proceedings more palatable to watch. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it most definitely does not follow the romcom playbook, making this one the more interesting and thoughtful releases in the genre.

Much of the credit towards this has to go to the actors. As I said before, I run very hot and cold when it comes to Miriam Yeung. Her performances in romantic comedies, such as the Love Undercover series, are akin to the proverbial nails on a chalkboard. But she has shown at times that she can be a good actress when bolstered by a good script and director, and this film is a prime example.

In a movie industry that often portrays women as greedy, bitchy, ditzy, or as "jade vases" totally devoid of any sort of real emotion or humanity, Mui becomes a wonderfully three-dimensional character that the audience can sympathize with and root for. Bolstered with strong performances from the other leads, jokes that are actually funny, and a story that won't given you a sugar-induced seizure, Hooked On You isn't just a good romantic comedy, it's a good film, period.

RATING: 7