A Balloon's Landing – Movie Review & Film Summary

Tian Yu, a famous Hong Kong author, is best known for his popular novel Ink Blue. However, he becomes embroiled in a scandal after being accused of plagiarizing The Drifting Island, an old story published by Taiwanese writer Yu Xin. The similarities between the two works, including specific keywords, are undeniable. Tian Yu is baffled by the allegations. What confuses him most is that Ink Blue tells a unique story only he knows, one he has never shared with anyone.

After the plagiarism scandal, Tian Yu's career lies in ruins. He is known as the disgraced writer. Overwhelmed by his tarnished reputation, he contemplates suicide with wine and sleeping pills. However, he suddenly remembers a letter from an old pen pal. The letter describes the Bay of Vanishing Whales, a mysterious island in the country of Taiwan. According to its lore, the enchanting island was once populated by whales until they were hunted by villagers and drifted away, disappearing entirely. Yet, the legend holds that one day, the whales will return.

Tian Yu has always been fascinated by the legend of the Bay of Vanishing Whales, which he has never visited. He is desperate to see the island for himself before ending his life. Tian Yu suddenly flies to Taiwan to search for the mysterious bay. His journey gets off to a bad start when he encounters a group of locals who try to get him drunk and rob him. He is saved by Xiang, a cheeky and opportunistic tour guide who offers to take Tian Yu to the bay for a fee. Although skeptical of the stranger, Tian Yu reluctantly agrees to go with him.

Xiang takes Tian Yu on his motorcycle, chatting nonstop as he tries to get the troubled writer to open up. Although Xiang seems carefree, his past is complicated. A group of gangsters is chasing after him. A dangerous encounter leaves Tian Yu furious about the risks involved. Tian Yu considers parting ways with Xiang, yet he realizes he has no idea how to reach the Bay of Vanishing Whales by himself. Reluctantly, he decides to stick with the unpredictable tour guide.

A Balloon's Landing is a disappointing movie that struggles to hold my interest. The plot develops awkwardly, starting with how the main characters meet under bizarre circumstances. As the story progresses, most events lack substance and excitement. Scene after scene, I watched with growing indifference. I couldn't connect with the two leads. Their relationship never felt compelling to me. Sadly, A Balloon's Landing is underwhelming for the entirety of the film.

Both protagonists go on a road trip, searching for a mysterious island. The Bay of the Vanishing Whales is like a MacGuffin, which motivates the characters to travel without mattering in the grand scheme of things. Along the way, the pair visits many scenic destinations, from hidden waterfalls to sunlit beaches. The movie flexes its cinematography skills through enchanting shots of the outdoors. The greatest strength of A Balloon's Landing is its visual beauty. Filmed across diverse locations, A Balloon's Landing takes viewers on a stunning journey through nature's wonders.

Tian Yu and Xiang are meant to bond during their road trip, but they never feel particularly close, not even as friends. Their conversations are too trivial. They talk about mundane topics and rarely open up about themselves. Often, the dialogue lacks humour, depth, and emotional weight. Another issue is that they don't share enough experiences together. Besides swimming in the waterfall and playing on the beach, the characters spend their journey simply travelling from one location to the next. They need more memorable adventures to create a deeper relationship.

A Balloon's Landing is not a BL movie. Tian Yu and Xiang only have a bromance with implied romantic undertones. The film teases several ambiguously gay moments, including a scene when the characters almost share an accidental kiss. More accurately, their lips come close to touching after they bump into each other. However, there is no overt affection between the leads. The friendship doesn't even develop that deeply on a platonic level, so I was surprised when Tian Yu acted as if they were close. You guys were only together for a couple of days!

Initially, the casting seemed promising. Tian Yu's actor (Terence Lau) is a total stud. With his tall stature and handsome features, this Hong Kong adonis has a commanding presence throughout the film. His co-star (Fandy Fan) is also recognizable to BL fans who watched HIStory 2. He brings a cheeky and cheerful attitude to his role as Xiang. Together, they'd make an electrifying on-screen couple. Sadly, A Balloon's Landing shies away from depicting a full-fledged gay romance. It's a waste of potential to cast two marketable leads and not explore their chemistry further.

Near the end, A Balloon's Landing introduces a random fantasy twist involving a magical mailbox. The reveal is bizarre and hilariously convoluted, leaving me laughing at how absurd the story becomes. While the film pretends to be poignant and meaningful, it ultimately comes off as kind of dumb. Overall, this poorly written movie bores me most of the time. The lack of a gay romance only makes it more disappointing. Other than the actors occasionally showing off their shirtless bodies, there isn't much of a selling point with A Balloon's Landing.