Call For Love

Xu Lang has been drifting through a predictable marriage when he asks for a divorce, weary of routine and longing for something different. Instead of a clean break he winds up with a magical cell phone given by an angel, a gadget that sets him up on a string of romantic encounters with a dozen women. Each date is its own comic episode, revealing quirks in the men and women he meets and forcing him to question what he really wants. As he chases novelty, personal costs and shifting emotions catch up to him, and he has to reckon with the consequences of his choices without any neat answers.

Released in 2007, Call For Love was directed by Zhang Jianya and written by Liu Yiwei, Shu Huan, and Zhu Ping. The movie features Xu Zheng as Xu Lang, with Ning Jing, Michelle Bai, Annie Shizuka Inoh, and Yongli Che in supporting roles, reflecting a cast drawn from mainland and cross-border talent.

The film did not register as a major commercial breakout outside its home market, and no significant worldwide gross figures are widely cited. Its box office impact was modest compared with bigger mainland hits of the era, and it saw limited international distribution.

Call For Love has a modest place in mid 2000s Chinese rom com output. It’s remembered by fans for its light, episodic structure and for pairing familiar faces in a parade of short vignettes. While it didn’t spawn enduring catchphrases or wide cultural imitation, viewers who follow the careers of its cast sometimes point to it as an example of popular comedy trends at the time, especially the mix of supernatural plot elements with relationship farce.

Critical response was mixed, reflected in an average rating around 5.6 out of 10 from a small pool of votes. Reviewers tended to note the film’s humorous sketches and situational setups, while criticizing its uneven pacing and thin character development. Themes include the friction between routine and desire, how nostalgia shapes choices, and what commitment means in a changing urban life, all presented in a light, comic tone rather than heavy drama.