I didn't even know what I was getting myself into when I sat down to watch the 2007 movie "Gone Shopping" from writer and director Li Lin Wee. All I knew was that it was an Asian movie, and that alone is actually enough to spark my interest in a movie.
I watched "Gone Shopping", and initially I wasn't overly fond of it. But now that the movie have had some time to sink it, I am actually starting to like it more and more, because the movie is actually a wonderful satirical presentation of how we are as humans and how we are ruled by an endless need for more and more, consumerism at its finest.
"Gone Shopping" is somewhat of an acquired taste, and this movie will definitely not have an easy and broad appeal for the audience at large.
The storyline is somewhat confusing at first, especially because we follow multiple characters and storylines, but they are all centered around the same shopping centre, and the events that transpire within.
I will say that the character gallery in "Gone Shopping" was interesting and very varied. This was good, because the individual storylines will have individual appeal to the audience, and the actors and actresses that they had for the various roles were actually doing quite nicely with their given roles and characters. I wasn't familiar with the cast here in the movie, which was something I really enjoy, as there are no associations to previously portrayed characters. Kym Ng (playing Clara Wong) really carried the movie phenomenally.
If you enjoy Asian movies and want to watch something that is not mainstream and mass produced in following a certain how-to-make-a-movie blueprint, then you should take the time to sit down and watch "Gone Shopping". It is definitely in a league of its own.
I am rating it six out of ten stars. The movie is somewhat of a curveball, but let it simmer and give it time to sink in, because there are so many levels and facets to the movie.