The Chinese-language version of What Women Want, a romantic comedy and an adaptation of Nancy Meyer’s Hollywood film of the same name starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt, showcases two important stars of Asian Cinema, Andy Lau and Gong Li.
In the film they are advertising agents, willing to do anything to show their talent and achieve their ambition, who find themselves competing for the same position at the advertising agency for which they work. Sun Zigang (Andy Lau), a divorcee with a teenage daughter and a father in his seventies is not really the incarnation of the ideal father or son. His life revolves around work and women.
When the agency chooses to give the role of creative director, a particularly important and prestigious role, to Ly Yilong (Gong Li), well-known in the advertising industry for her personality and determination, this is a harsh blow for Sun Zigang and his insatiable desire for success. Ly’s fame and success in the sector convince the President that the agency needs a stronger female perspective to compete in the market. Ly Yilong therefore becomes the number one enemy for Sun Zigang who has to play dumb when, during a presentation, Ly hands out a pack of female products to the entire team and asks them to study the contents and discuss any new ideas.
That night, when Sun Zigang tries to explore the female world by using their products, he accidentally electrocutes himself in the bath. But when he regains consciousness at the hospital, something has changed! By “magic”, he is now able to read women’s minds, their thoughts and their desires. By listening to women’s thoughts, Sun is gradually able to win their trust and his success with women becomes his weapon against Ly, not only to steal her ideas but to present them to the agency as his own. This wins him fame as an expert in female psychology and also the President’s trust who soon decides to do without Ly. The ambitious seducer who has always got the better of him must be faced with his new self, in love with Ly.
What Women Want reveals the surprise of a wonderful and captivating Gong Li in her role as career woman in a romantic comedy, able to hold her ground alongside Andy Lau, the star of many comedies. Two icons of Asian Cinema are brought to the screen by Chen Daming, director, scriptwriter and actor, invited to Udine Far East Film Festival in 2003 with his debut film Manhole and in 2007 with One Foot Off the Ground.