Chen Tian Wen may have found success with the Cannes award-winning local film Ilo Ilo but is his role as the flamboyant Mr Unbelievable his pièce de résistance?
Chen Tian Wen is pleasantly surprised by the popularity of Mr Unbelievable, which has reached even the Philippines.
When veteran actor Chen Tian Wen was first approached to film the “Unbelievable” music video (MV), he had his doubts.
After all, it’s not easy to portray a flamboyant character in a retro MV without making it unbearably cheesy. The titular character, Mr Unbelievable, sports an old-school mullet and shades, and croons off-tune lyrics such as “Come be my coffee table and I’ll be your sofa” and “I so stunned like a vegetable” [sic].
The video, a spinoff from local television sitcom “Spouse for House 2”, has garnered more than two million views on YouTube, reached the Philippines and even made headlines in Time magazine. Now, Mr Unbelievable — also known as “Eric Kwek” — has clinched his own movie, arriving in theatres on Dec 3.
Speaking to Weekender, Tian Wen reveals why Mr Unbelievable’s success made him “so stunned like a vegetable”.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF MR UNBELIEVABLE?
I’m excited but also nervous. After so many years as an actor, I’m finally a movie lead, and I’m thankful that I still get to record a song at my age.
People used to tell me to stop singing because of how bad I was. Who knew that such a song, especially sung by me, could be so popular?
Last week, my brother’s domestic helper told him that even Filipinos love Mr Unbelievable.
HOW DO YOU THINK IT BECAME SO POPULAR?
I think it’s due to the surprising yet catchy song. After filming we realised that it would be stuck in our brains; before I sleep, the song is on loop in my head.
It’s almost like being brainwashed!
I’m also in awe of how scarily fast it spread online.
WHAT’S MR UNBELIEVABLE LIKE IN THE MOVIE?
Eric carries burdens with him but he is very strong. I was a bit resistant to my character at first but, after two weeks, I began to understand him.
He’s also very forward-thinking. He wants to combine Hokkien getai songs with English lyrics for the modern era.
DID YOU DO ANYTHING SPECIAL FOR THIS ROLE?
I lost 10kg. I believe I was ‘tortured’ thin by the director. I step on set and the first thing he says to me is, “Cry!”
No, actually, when we started filming, I’d begun a diet.
[The Mr Unbelievable movie and the MV are directed by “House for Spouse” director Ong Kuo Sin.]
Reprising his role in Mr Unbelievable as Eric Kwek, Chen Tian Wen reveals that there will be many original songs in the movie.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE MOVIE?
There are many other original songs in it, one of which was specially written for Singaporeans.
YOU PERFORMED “UNBELIEVABLE” AT GETAI SHOWS. HOW DID THE OLDER AUDIENCE RESPOND?
They were excited. I received applause on the very first line, and everyone whipped their mobile phones out [to record the performance]. That is Singaporeans’ specialty!
HOW ABOUT SINGING “UNBELIEVABLE” TO YOUR NEWBORN SON?
I do that. But he doesn’t want to sleep, and when he’s hungry he’s impossible to deal with.
SINCE THE MV, WHAT REACTIONS DO YOU GET ON THE STREET?
No one calls me Chen Tian Wen anymore! Everyone just points and says, “Eh, Unbelievable!” Some people also mispronounce it, calling me “Un-ble-ble-ble”.
Tian Wen with his Mr Unbelievable co-star, Liu Ling Ling, at the announcement of the movie release.
PEOPLE ALSO CALL YOU THE NEXT PHUA CHU KANG. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?
The next PCK? I don’t know — let’s just see how things play out. I’m not about to wear the false mullet out on the streets every day!
SOME THINK OF YOU AS AN IDOL AND FIND YOU CHARMING. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?
[Grins] I can’t say that of myself. I must wait for other people to say it!By Pamela Chow
Mr Unbelievable will be out in cinemas on Dec 3. Read our preview of the movie here.
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