Note to self: never befriend anybody on an airplane … especially the cactus-toting, be-wigged moron in the middle seat. This is the mistake of businessman/inventor Xu Lang (Zheng Xu), as Mr. Xu directed Lost in Thailand, we’ll give him a pass for creating conflict … but as he wrote the film, too, he really should have known better.
Xu has invented “super gas” a substance that turns a half tank into a full tank with just two drops. Woohoo! With a soon-to-be ex riding him, he has to get to a temple in Thailand to see his boss ahead of a rival Gao Bo (Bo Huang). How he could invent super gas and yet holds no leverage in his business meetings seems foreign to me. Subtitled even. Maybe there’s something lost in translation. Basically, it’s two men chasing each other through Thailand, except the hero 
acquires an idiot, Wang Bo (Bao Qiang Wang – put a lot of effort into those names, didn’t you pal?) on the airplane and never loses him. Wang has come to Thailand to ride elephants, fight kick-boxers and see the Taj Mahal (don’t ask). He also wants to see the famous ladyboys of Thailand (won’t shut up about it, in fact), until he realizes they’re not really ladies, of course. Don’t get excited; it’s a Chinese film. He keeps a picture of his girlfriend in his pocket. It’s a magazine picture of supermodel/actress Bingbing Fan. Yup. You’ve seen versions of this guy before, haven’t you?
I’m told Lost in Thailand was a huge hit in China. ‘Biggest opening ever” was the phrase. You want to make fun, but let’s face it … Twilight. Lost in Thailand has been called the Chinese Hangover. With the practically G-rated Thai material, that’s saying it’s, “like Michael Phelps without the swimming.” Funny one should mention Hangover, because this film strongly resembles Todd Phillips’ Hangover follow-up, Due Date – anxious guy anchored to a moron for a wild road trip? Yup. Due Date. I suppose Wang is just a touch more likeable than Zach Galifianakis – that tipped the scales for me… strange, I expect that argument to be, like ladyboys themselves, lost in thighland.
Inventor and idiot went for a walk
Upon Thailand one day
Inventor and idiot had quite a squawk
When seeking out the way
Inventor and idiot discovered a stalk
A rival would betray
Inventor and idiot, originality? A crock!
Full price? You must not pay!
Not Rated -but don’t get excited, “Thailand” in the title doesn’t translate to any “Bangkok” on screen, 105 Minutes
D: Zheng Xu
W: Ding Ding, Huan Shu, Zheng Xu
Genre: He’s a man/he’s a moron
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: People who need movies to make themselves feel smart
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: “Buddy pics are tiresome”
