That's The Way I Like It

Set in Singapore in 1977, That's the Way I Like It follows Hock (Adrian Pang), a Bruce Lee fan, as he discovers the joys of disco when he's dragged unwillingly to Saturday Night Fever. Initially bored, he comes to life when he sees the slick dance moves. He starts taking classes with his friend Mei (Medaline Tan), who, unbeknownst to Hock, wishes they were more than friends. Meanwhile, Hock is smitten with another girl in the class, whose boyfriend isn't pleased. Fortunately, Tony Manero himself (Dominic Pace) comes down off the screen to give Hock advice. Themes of traditional culture wrestling with Western influence recur--Hock's sister reads romance novels compulsively, several characters have given themselves Western names--but always with a light touch. While the acting is unpolished, it's sincere and enthusiastic; the movie is formulaic but not wholly predictable, and when Hock gets his groove on, it takes off. That's the Way I Like It also makes good use of its '70s soundtrack, even though most of the versions are not by the original artists. Though marketed as if it were a foreign-language film, the movie is in English.