Film Name: 無名之輩：否極泰來 / A Cool Fish 2 / Made in Yiwu 3
Rao Xiaozhi took a big risk by releasing two “A Cool Fish” films in the same year, and surprisingly, the first one to be released was the originally planned third installment, “A Cool Fish 2,” while “Made in Yiwu 3” was scheduled for the New Year’s Eve slot…
After watching the preview, I felt quite conflicted: on one hand, the film’s design was too “calculated,” and by the end, it felt chaotic and awkward—calling it a bad film wouldn’t be unfair; on the other hand, the movie captured a genuine essence of absurd comedy, and the characters and emotions within it had a unique appeal.
To be honest, I’ve never thought Rao Xiaozhi’s films were particularly good, such as “End Game” and “Home Coming,” especially “A Cool Fish,” which established his reputation in the industry—I felt it was overrated. Yet strangely, no matter how many people doubt him, Rao Xiaozhi’s films often achieve decent box office results.
Through “A Cool Fish 2,” I’ve come to understand that no matter how many issues or flaws there are, his films always have a “safety net.”
Therefore, I believe that once the film is officially released, it will receive better box office results than its critical reception.
[Friendly reminder: The following text contains spoilers.]
After saying what I wanted to say, let’s chat about the points that resonated with me in “A Cool Fish 2.”
This film breaks away from the director’s previous tendency toward realistic storytelling, instead plunging headfirst into the surreal, abstract, and absurd. The basic framework of the story is a massive prank reality TV show called “Tearing Apart the Scum.”
Compared to the classic film “The Truman Show,” “A Cool Fish 2” lacks any subtlety or restraint, instead embracing madness and biting satire. Even last year’s “Successor” handled the weaving of deception and the revelation of truth with far greater ease.
Thus, while we can see traditional media resorting to hysterical entertainment-driven tactics in the face of extinction, the overly crude and mocking approach undermines the film’s satirical edge and critical edge.
That said, “A Cool Fish 2” does capture the current social discourse and public mindset quite well: people are emotional, prone to following trends, easily swayed by the crowd, yet they still hold a simple, yet correct sense of right and wrong.
This is reflected in the audience’s shifting attitudes toward the protagonist Chen Sanjin—initially, upon discovering his “cad” nature, they heaped insults and mockery upon him. As he revealed more ordinary human traits, they began to understand and sympathize with him. And when he emerged reborn through bloodshed, they even hoped he would fight injustice on their behalf and wreak havoc.
Therefore, while many viewers were dissatisfied with the final gunfight (where Chen Sanjin “wipes out” the terrorist base), I actually find it to be the crowning touch of “A Cool Fish 2”: the more exaggerated and unrealistic this scene is, the more it completes that sense of absurdity and fantasy that feels out of reach, and the more it reflects the complex mix of love and hate that people have for “dreams” both within and outside the film.
Finally, let’s discuss the character design and relationships, which I believe are the most audience-friendly aspects of the film.
This time, “A Cool Fish 2” not only portrays the helpless predicament of ordinary people but also satirizes and pays homage to the countless middle-aged men struggling to make ends meet.
Why is Chen Sanjin stuck in Thailand, constantly harassing his ex-girlfriend Xue Fangmei, who works at the TV station? Because after guaranteeing the sale of a large batch of light bulbs, he didn’t receive the final payment, so he couldn’t return to Yiwu to explain to his brother… A businessman who is owed money but can’t collect it is inherently incapable of becoming a major villain.
Of course, Chen Sanjin is terrible in many other ways—he’s incompetent, lacks skills, is greedy, lustful, and stingy, and dares only to clash with Xue Fangmei, who is also a victim. Once he enters the TV station’s carefully designed set, his cowardice and slipperiness are exposed without reservation.
But upon further reflection, isn’t fear of death a natural human instinct? What’s so laughable about being poor and lacking ambition? Mocking the weak is hardly something to be proud of, and this forms the strongest context for the turnaround and explosive climax of “A Cool Fish 2.”
A similar transformation occurs with Xue Fangmei. She agrees to participate in the prank show targeting Chen Sanjin primarily to find a way to give him the money he deserves (and vent her frustration), then simply follow the pre-written script and part ways. After all, the two share some emotional connection, and she does not wish to endlessly toy with or humiliate a pitiful man… Jennifer, driven by unlimited hatred and determined to crush the scoundrel completely, becomes the ultimate villain (please take note).
No one expected that the weak and helpless Chen Sanjin, after enduring repeated blows of life-and-death struggles and humiliation, could unleash such fiery determination. Even the powerful Jennifer could only follow the trend and turn Chen Sanjin into a hero.
A man’s dignity is something priceless yet worthless, especially for a middle-aged man without money, who perfectly embodies both states.
If someone in real life were to experience the same ordeal as Chen Sanjin, many would likely smile as they went to the TV station to collect their 6 million yuan, or angrily file a lawsuit—but Chen Sanjin chose to turn and leave in silence. That is the meaning of the film.
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