Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity (2002)

29% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(640 ratings)

Director Mina Shum re-teams with the lead actress behind her breakthrough debut film Double Happiness in this magic-realist romantic comedy. Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity stars Sandra Oh as Kin Ho, a lonely single mom living in Vancouver with her impish 12-year-old daughter, Mindy (Valerie… More Director Mina Shum re-teams with the lead actress behind her breakthrough debut film Double Happiness in this magic-realist romantic comedy. Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity stars Sandra Oh as Kin Ho, a lonely single mom living in Vancouver with her impish 12-year-old daughter, Mindy (Valerie Tian). Mindy stumbles across a corner magic store while traipsing through Chinatown one day, and begins to believe that spells and potions are the perfect means for improving her mother's life. Her purchases not achieving the desired results, Mindy resorts to more serious schemes, courtesy of a fortune teller. After a few botched efforts -- which result in good fortune for a neighborhood butcher and terrible luck for a security guard -- Mindy sets herself to the task of finding her mother a mate in the form of Alvin (Russell Yuen), a co-worker of Kin's who has long admired her from afar. Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity premiered at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Mina Shum
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 9, 2003 Wide
On DVD: May 9, 2006
Studio: Film Movement

Critic Reviews

Susan Walker, Toronto Star
With the sure hand of a skilled miniaturist, Mina Shum has crafted a nearly flawless film.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
An awkwardly contrived exercise in magic realism.
Shlomo Schwartzberg, Boxoffice Magazine
Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity is more often forced than affecting.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
The cold and dreary weather is a perfect metaphor for the movie itself, which contains few laughs and not much drama.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
The story is smart and entirely charming in intent and execution.
Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY
The problematic characters and overly convenient plot twists foul up Shum's good intentions.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Red L

I liked this film. In so many Canadian films, the plot seems to be less important than the acting, etc. but this plot is unique. It helps that one of the main characters is Sandra Oh as I've always enjoyed her acting.
Cynthia S

I really adored this movie. The kid in this movie was fantastic. If you pay attention, there are alot of really funny things in this movie. It's charming and cute!