Marry My Dead Body – Quirky Comedy with a Ghostly Queer Twist
Karma is quite real in the 2022 Taiwanese movie “Marry My Dead Body” (Original title: Guan yu wo han gui bian cheng jia ren de na jian shi), where a homophobic cop is haunted by a gay ghost and forced two learn a lesson or two about the queer community! The film starts with a deceptively saucy scene at a gym and hilariously introduces the cop protagonist to viewers.
Directed by Wei-Hao Cheng, who co-wrote the film with Lai Chih-liang and Sharon Wu, the crime comedy stars Greg Han Hsu as the ambitious policeman Wu Ming-han. He harbors a crush on his attractive lady colleague, Lin Tzu-Ching (Gingle Wang), but instead finds himself in a forced ghost marriage with a guy named Mao Mao (Po-Hung Lin). The only way for the cop to get rid of his ghost husband is to find and fulfill his dying wishes. And thus unfolds a crime comedy of errors as Wu and Mao go on a hilarious adventure to solve Mao’s hit-and-run death and catch a drug lord to help Wu get a promotion.
The cinematography and screenplay in “Marry My Dead Body” are colorful and engaging. However, the ghost marriage ceremony is uniquely shot in a red palette, setting it apart from the rest of the movie and giving it a very pulpy and spooky vibe. Po-Hung Lin largely appears in his human form as the spirit Mao; however, there are a few scenes in which he chooses to look like a grotesque ghoul to scare Wu Ming-han. The make-up and CGI on the ghastly ghost Mao seem deliberately sub-par, likely intended to draw laughs. Well, it really was quite comical to watch.
Actors Greg Han Hsu and Man-Chiao Wang in a still from “Marry My Dead Body” (Source: Netflix)Mao’s grandmother will instantly become everybody’s favorite character in “Marry My Dead Body.” She is endearingly portrayed by Man-Chiao Wang. Not bound by notions of archaic gender roles, Mao’s granny attended pride parades with him and supported his dream of getting married, especially since Taiwan passed the law supporting gay marriage in the country, becoming the first Asian country to do so. Tsung-Hua Tou, who portrays Pang-Yu’s father, has a much more complex relationship with his son. The story poignantly, albeit briefly, explores how a lack of communication often leads to estrangement between fathers and sons.
The intentions of “Marry My Dead Body” are in the right place; it’s supposed to be a fun comedy with a supernatural twist, aimed at teaching a prejudiced cop a lesson in recognizing that queer individuals deserve a life of dignity and happiness too. The enemies-to-friends progression between the macho Wu Ming-han and the flamboyant Mao Mao was slightly abrupt but sweet, and both men learn to be more accepting of each other. However, the writers also pander to stereotypes, portraying gay men as promiscuous floozies who are overly theatrical and obsessed with superficial aspects of life.
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With a runtime of 2 hour 10 minutes, “Marry My Dead Body” manages to keep viewers entertaining throughout the runtime with its twin sub-plots, while one focuses on the leads efforts to solve Mao’s death, the other on Wu Ming-han’s endeavors to help nab a notorious drug lord and get a promotion at work. Gingle Wang as Lin Tzu-Ching, who is Wu Ming-han’s partner at work and is frustrated with the men not taking her seriously because she is pretty, has to work doubly hard on the case to prove her worth. While her role has a predictable arc, she is sassy and entertaining in her part.
Greg Han Hsu and Po-Hung Lin deliver riotous performances with impeccable comic timing as the lead duo. Extra stars to Greg Han Hsu for a ridiculously funny possession scene, where he streaks through his locality with the flair of a queen, courtesy of Mao’s presence in the cop’s body. After establishing himself as the ultra-masculine and cocky cop, he gracefully showcases delightful duality in moments requiring a more feminine touch.
Packed with hilarious scenes, comical twists, and an unexpectedly emotional climax, “Marry My Dead Body” (Guan yu wo han gui bian cheng jia ren de na jian shi) presents an intriguing blend of genres that keeps you engaged until the end, even though it occasionally verges on becoming excessively clichéd.
Stream the film on Netflix. Rating: 7.5/10
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