The cameras have officially started rolling for A Bit Crazy Journey (《一路金喜》), a 2027 Chinese New Year road comedy produced by R Pharmacy, Sunstrong Entertainment, Crescendas Group and Aqueen Hotels & Resorts, and jointly produced by Storm Entertainment, Sky Picture, FilmForce and YaGood Entertainment.
The film officially launched production today at its commencement ceremony, and set to filming begin on 18 July across Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Perlis. With a production budget of RM3.5 million, A Bit Crazy Journey is slated for release during the 2027 Chinese New Year.
Marking his feature film directorial debut, Jaspers Lai (赖宇涵) takes on the triple role of director, screenwriter and main actor. The film brings together an exciting cross-border ensemble featuring Hong Kong veteran actress Nancy Sit (薛家燕), Singapore’s award-winning actor Mark Lee (李国煌), China Influencer Chen Tudou (陈土豆), alongside Malaysian talents K-Lao (K佬), Shaun Chen (陈泓宇) and Wong Shu Sen (温舒森), creating one of the region’s most anticipated festive releases.
A Bit Crazy Journey follows an unexpected road trip that brings together a group of strangers from vastly different backgrounds. Through a series of hilarious encounters and heartwarming moments, the journey reminds them of the true meaning of family, friendship and love. True to its Chinese title, which symbolises “wealth and happiness throughout the journey”, the film hopes to bring laughter, warmth and festive blessings to audiences and families during the Lunar New Year.
Jaspers Lai Grateful for the Cast’s Trust, Eyes RM18 Million Box Office
Speaking at the launch, Jaspers Lai shared that the project had been years in the making, revealing that many cast members came on board simply after he invited them with a heartfelt, “Come and have fun with us.” “I’m incredibly grateful that so many people believed in me and supported this dream,” he said. “Without the confidence of our investors, partners and cast, A Bit Crazy Journey would not have become a reality.”
Confident in the film’s strong ensemble led by Nancy Sit and Mark Lee, Lai also expressed his ambition for the film to surpass the RM18 million local box office benchmark set by Dear You (《给阿嬷的情书》).
Nancy Sit Takes On Her First Malaysian Chinese New Year Film
Celebrated Hong Kong actress Nancy Sit expressed her excitement about starring in her first-ever Malaysian Chinese New Year film, describing Jaspers Lai as “an exceptionally creative and talented director.”
She plays “Kim Soh”, a woman living with mild dementia, whose journey involves physically demanding scenes including hiking, running and adventurous outdoor sequences.
“I’m already 76 years old, but the director wants me to perform like I’m 26,” she joked, drawing laughter from the audience. Despite the physical demands, Nancy Sit said she is fully committed to the role. “As long as audiences leave the cinema happy, every challenge will be worthwhile.”
Mark Lee Confidently Declares: “Wherever I Am, There’s a Box Office Hit!”
Singapore’s comedy icon Mark Lee not only stars as the charismatic yet mysterious underworld boss “Thief King”, but also joins the project as one of its investors. He shared that his decision to support the film was driven by his belief in Jaspers Lai’s creativity and determination, while also wanting to support the development of local filmmaking.
When asked about the film’s ambitious box office target, Mark Lee confidently quipped, “Wherever I am, there’s a RM10 million box office.”
Commenting on the increasingly competitive 2027 Chinese New Year movie season, Lee welcomed the healthy competition.
“The more local films there are, the healthier the industry becomes. If every moviegoer supports three to five local Chinese New Year films, Malaysia has the potential to become one of Southeast Asia’s most important film markets.”
K-Lao Joins Out of Friendship, Wong Shu Sen Faces Her Biggest Acting Challenge Yet
Another highlight of the production is the appearance of K-Lao, whom Jaspers revealed had inspired the character of Ah Nam from the very beginning of the writing process. While jokingly saying K-Lao joined the film “without charging a fee”, Jaspers clarified with a laugh that the actor was indeed paid. “He and the rest of the cast accepted the invitation because they wanted to support my filmmaking dream. I’m truly thankful for that.”
Meanwhile, Wong Shu Sen makes her feature film debut as Nana, a young woman searching for true love. She admitted feeling both excited and nervous acting alongside veterans such as Nancy Sit and Mark Lee, adding that the emotional scenes presented her greatest challenge. To prepare herself, she relied on music and films to help build the emotional state required for the role.
Offering some light-hearted advice, Nancy Sit joked, “If you can’t cry… just give yourself a slap!” Her humorous remark drew laughter from everyone present and reflected the warm camaraderie among the cast.
Chen Tudou Steals the Show with Surprise Appearance
Making a surprise appearance at the press conference was Chinese internet personality Chen Tudou, whose energetic entrance immediately became one of the day’s highlights.
Introducing herself with her trademark humour, she declared, “I’m the super international superstar, Chen Tudou!” The crowd erupted in laughter.
Chen admitted that when she first received Jaspers Lai’s invitation, she initially wondered whether it was a scam. “Since it was an international collaboration, I was still a little nervous before boarding the plane. I even reminded him not to confiscate my passport,” she joked.
Her doubts disappeared once she learned that Nancy Sit was part of the cast. “She’s an icon we all grew up watching. I thought to myself, this can’t possibly be fake.”
Chen plays the character “Snake Boy Ming (蛇仔明)”, a name she hilariously protested. “I’m usually so fashionable. This name sounds way too down-to-earth!” She jokingly suggested changing her character’s name to “Potato Princess”, only to have the idea immediately rejected by the director. Joining in the fun, Nancy Sit playfully proposed another nickname, sparking even more laughter among the audience.
The cast’s lively chemistry and spontaneous interactions throughout the launch event offered a glimpse of the humour and heart audiences can expect from A Bit Crazy Journey.
Set for release during the 2027 Chinese New Year, the film promises an unforgettable journey filled with laughter, touching family moments and meaningful friendships.
As the film’s heartfelt message suggests, audiences are invited to “set off with a smile and bring love home.”
