British Chinese feature film Fortune Cookies has officially arrived on Prime Video, giving viewers a look at a 1990s family comedy set right here in the UK.
Written and directed by Brenda Lee, the Northamptonshire-based production follows the Lee family as they fight to keep their local Chinese takeaway afloat during the summer of 1997. Facing pressure from HMRC and declining sales, the family sees a lifeline when they score a spot on their favourite television game show, Fame To Fortune.
The story draws directly from Lee’s own childhood growing up in a family-run takeaway. As a teenager, Lee spent her time taking phone orders and working in the kitchen, while her family frequently passed the hours pretending to be contestants on popular 1990s game shows.
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Production house Screen Northants compares the tone to classic British comedy Bend It Like Beckham paired with the working-class humour of The Full Monty, mixed with the chaotic family dynamics of Little Miss Sunshine.
At the centre of the story is Susan (played by Carmen Pat), an aspiring performer who feels like the black sheep of her household. Her creative ambitions put her directly at odds with her traditional father Cyril (Siu Hun Li). The cast also stars Belinda Duong, Eric Mok, Helena Tang-Grosso, and Lucy Sheen.
You can stream Fortune Cookies right now on Prime Video.
