Movie: We Can Save the World!!! - not a review, just thoughts
What a rare treat to have an English, local sci-fi big production! I HAD TO WATCH IT!
18 Sep 2025
Many of my friends asked me if the movie was good.
It's hard to explain!
Drama wise, the plot is simple. Some may find the execution a little clunky or cringey (too many toilet jokes!!!) It's hard to please Singaporeans who watch so many foreign movies, and who will inevitably compare this film to those. There are definitely going to be haters out there as this film is definitely not everyone's cup of tea.
BUT was it fun to explore? Yes! Whole-heartedly!
It was a really refreshing movie for me.
I was uncertain if I liked the movie at first. I think slapstick kind of humour is very subjective - some of the audience members were hooting to every part of the movie, while there are also people like me: amused because everyone is so amused.
Some movies shine in their story-telling, others in their striking visuals and pictures (Wes Anderson, Zhang Yimou). I enjoyed this movie for its heart, effort and novelty!
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Thoughts on the film- At the start of the movie, I chuckled at the CGI star streak in the sky.
- For the alien arrival, I thought it started off really strong stylistically with a smidge of horror. The creepy cult chanting and alien voices were great too.
- Things got more pedestrian when we got to the office scenes. Don't really appreciate the boss/Ryan sequence but I guess it's cause I can't relate. Lol.
- WCSTW touches lightly on some 'Singaporean' themes - the 'SG Dream'/ Sg 'Route to Success' / the attitude to work. There are patriotic notes but not in a honeyed nostalgic manner (like how HDB flats and kopitiams are romanticised...I'm so bored of this trope!)
- The scenes depicting Valu$ (lol), fun creative use of the NETS machine booth, and random parts of Singapore (I could SMELL the danky toilets, gosh) were interesting to see on the big screen. I'm a bit sad though that the bird call used was not the bird call that I expected. (ooo-OOO! iykyk...)
- I'm trying to keep this spoiler free but the movie audience for my session was very tickled and engaged with the movie VERY loudly. It was very amusing and I can imagine it would be very fun if the theatre was full!
They saw a chance, took a risk and ran with it. I think it paid off. This unapologetic choice was memorable at the very least. I noticed that this movie is part of the New York Asian Film Festival and wonder how foreign audiences will react to this particular segment XD - I also loved the soundtrack!!! It was perfect for the closing credits (which everyone stayed for and clapped after!!) Manifesting for a local movie with songs featuring local artists (m1ldlife/ club m1ld, brb.) please!)
Actors
I'm really surprised by Noah Yap's acting because the last I watched anything of his would be his 'Ah Beng' persona 😂 People bash local acting all the time but you can see how his acting experience really shone through and anchored the movie.
As for Jun Vinh Teoh, I've seen him on Average Guys and I think he did a great job too! Excited to see these actors explore more roles in future!
Special shout out to Daisy Irani (EMD Director) who absolutely killed it with her presence! Props to Leslie Sim (Boon) as well. I enjoyed the casting of the characters and the other promotional /marketing content like the actors playing games and answering trivia~! 👽
Overall:
WCSTW shines through with authenticity - you can feel like the love and effort put in by the crew for the film. In an era where YouTube and even short TikTok clips can be so slick and maybe even overproduced, this movie has a sort of 'homey' feel that is very charming.
That said, the film could benefit from a bit of trimming and perhaps offer more variety of jokes other than toilet jokes T_T. I am also interested to know more about Huat and Peng since Huat was introduced - how did they meet and how did he protect him? What's up with the locked room from the address?!?! Who is Vivian?!
I also wished to see more of the friendship being developed for the characters? Or maybe a strange trait that the alien does?
I felt Jordana didn't get to do much or show her personality much as well o_o Too many characters?
Despite these, this movie was FRESH! I can see people trying to compare this with sci-fi blockbusters, Jack Neo, or even indie work from other countries. But I would argue that's really not the point. We don't need another copycat remake of some comic book movie that has been rebooted three times. CCH wanted to tell a story and he did it his way!!! 👏
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Other thoughts:It's not easy for Singaporeans to 'chase a risky dream' like making a full length movie, and I'm not saying we should award every single effort regardless of quality.
In this age of AI, I think it is increasingly important to share YOUR voice, YOUR story. It doesn't have to be polished or perfect - can anything really be perfect? - it just has to be you! I think people can see the authenticity and heart in this movie and they are responding to that. I definitely believe that this film is such a great addition to the roster of SG films.
I think the movie is special to me because I know it must have been such a great endeavour to pull this off, especially without grants. (Crowdfunding ftw!!!) It was brave and commendable to MAKE and COMPLETE this movie and share it with the world.
I seriously salute their efforts! This really speaks and heals the dreamer in me. It actually brings tears to my eyes just thinking about how much work went into making this film.
I think I have a broad understanding of SG films, having watched some in theatres over the years - Apprentice, Ilo Ilo, Wet Season, Sandcastle, Eating Air, most of the Royston Tan films, Bugis Street, The Leap Years etc and of course, Jack Neo. I also watched a bunch of web series (I LOVE NSFTV). (Didn't watch any Mediacorp serials, sorry.)
Having studied films like Cleopatra Wong, Army Daze, Bugis Street, films by the Shaw Brothers and etc in a Singapore film module, I also really appreciate how our local movie industry has evolved and developed over the years. I'm really so heartened by this movie :')
You know the moment when a child's eyes lights up when they see someone similar to them being represented, whether in the Olympics, or as a Barbie doll? To a young Singapore movie-goer that has only ever known YouTube and Marvel movies, this film could be the start of a huge realisation too. This light-hearted movie could be great gateway to Singapore cinema.
I don't know how many years it will take us, but maybe one day we will have something like 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' :')
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I was watching a reel where the director CCH shared that in 10-15 years, cinemas may not even be a thing anymore.
Will our 'big chain' movie theatres like GV and Shaw end up being 'indie' places like The Projector one day as more people decide to stream shows at home?
Well, however the scene evolves, I believe that turning up in person for live (indie?) events offer something digital sessions cannot replace - the togetherness and euphoria of experiencing something (and each other) at the same time.
(Example: Watching Spiderman on the first opening weekend with fans was super fun. Everyone was hyped, came in costumes, and SCREAMED at the Spidey crossovers. You know, sometimes watching films in the cinema cannot beat watching a show, alone, on your iPad at home...)
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So I let the movie sit and I found myself thinking about it still, the morning after. (So I had to word vent here)
I'm not proclaiming that it is a SUPER AWESOME GREAT ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ MOVIE! But I will say
1. I certainly enjoyed it,
2. I very appreciate the effort behind it,
3. and I am so hopeful about how the movie will encourage future local filmmakers.
If you're just a slightest bit curious, I think you can give it a go! It's being extended for another week, and it's really special to watch this movie with fellow Singaporeans~
Thank you for making such a fun movie! 👀👽💩🤝🏻🚮
Keep the fire burning 🔥
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