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Add this deceptively satisfying, unassuming production to your next fitspiration goals. And enjoy a rom-com while at it.

Somewhere in China, Le Ying (Ling Jia) wastes her time all day doing practically nothing, leaving the tending of their family’s small convenience store to her mother (Haiyan Zhao) and her recently-divorced sister Le Dan (Xiaofe Zhang.) A big argument erupts between the siblings, afterwards Le Ying storms away from home. One would think that she wouldn’t survive on her own. Somehow she manages.

She meets boxing trainer Hao Kun (Jiayin Lei.) She is attracted, he needs her gym membership. One would think she wouldn’t last a week in a gym. She does, of course. And more.

In a case of why-is-this-generic-rom-com-worth-seeing is not the inspiring story of Le Ying’s cinderella transformation to win her boxing prince charming. (But there are some cute funny moments for the rom-com crowd.) The reason comes towards the end of the film, when all is revealed.

It must be noted that Yolo is based on the 2014 Japanese film 100 Yen Love (Hyakuen no Koi) by Take Masaharu, so any credit to the inspiring story must start from that. The Chinese tale, however, leans on the brighter side of romantic comedy and is more empowering in the end than the Japanese original.

For the good entirety of the film, viewers are deceived by the camera (or at least, that’s how I think the film’s look was intended) to constantly wonder how the production pulled off showing the main character at 100kg in the beginning, and nearly half of that weight at the end. Best prosthetic makeup? CGI? Caloric deficit? The thought pestered not just me but other reviewers attending the screening. By the end-credits, you’re either doing Oscars slow claps or shaking your head in disbelief. (Would have also benefited from better and more subtitles, as many are left out untranslated.)

Hilarious, heart-warming, but most importantly, inspiring. YOLO is a hit!

YOLO is in cinemas starting Wednesday April 17, presented by Columbia Pictures Philippines.

(Images from Columbia Pictures)