Escape from the 21st Century
2024 · Directed by Li Yang
Original language: Chinese
- science fiction
- comedy
- action
The story
Three friends discover that they have the power to travel back and forth 20 years with a sneeze. However, the future is not as good as they hope, and they need to take on the responsibility of saving the world.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated, and hyperactive, with busy compositions, quick cuts, and a restless camera that chases its characters through crowded streets and absurd set pieces. The look swings between nostalgic early-2000s schoolyard colour and a grander, glossier future, and the sound mixes bouncy pop cues, big comic sound effects, and sudden swells of orchestral seriousness. The vibe is goofy, loud, and playfully surreal, best for a lively weekend night or a laugh-out-loud escape when you want something energetic rather than quiet. Its pacing is brisk and jokey, and its emotional core is the old bond between three childhood friends, with jealousy and loyalty pulling them in different directions before they reconcile. Violence is cartoonish martial-arts style, mostly slapstick and frequent sight gags, with no gore and little real menace, though the action runs high-energy and crude jokes appear now and then. It suits viewers who enjoy broad Chinese comedy, time-travel absurdity, and buddy-group chaos more than subtle character study.
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