The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Posted: 19 Feb 2013 02:49 AM PST

Two bickering matriarchs have to make their peace when their children fall in love in this new drama series.

It has often been said that marriage is not just the union of two individuals, but that of two families. But when the two households are as different as can be, will love be enough to make the world go round?

In Laws is a new Mandarin drama from Ntv7 which explores this premise and examines the clashing of cultures between traditional and modern households.

The light-hearted family drama follows one such scenario where the young ones fall head over heels in love, even though the two mothers can never seem to see eye to eye.

In a press conference recently, the main cast of In Laws gathered in Kuala Lumpur to launch the 20-episode series.

The two bickering mothers-in-law in question are Hong Yu Zhen (Remon Lim) – a reputable matchmaker-cum-wedding chaperon who believes in the sanctity of marriage – and Xiao Mei Feng (Loo Aye Keng), a hotshot lawyer who frequently changes partners.

The very conventional Yu Zhen runs a specialty store supplying customary Chinese wedding gifts with the help of her husband Zheng Wen (Kelvin Leong) and two sons Shen Feng (Frederick Lee) and Qi Jian (Lawrence Wong).

Meanwhile, the sophisticated Mei Feng single-handedly raised her two daughters Na Na (Danielle Dai) and Hui Min (Joey Leong) after her husband left them.

For playing the snooty lawyer, the statuesque Loo quipped, "My character is a modern mother with a succession of young boyfriends. She stands apart from others in the way she walks and the way she talks, and even in the way she sits and eats."

Commenting on her fiery collaboration with Loo, Golden Awards best actress winner Lim shared how even the director was moved by the sparks that ensued. "The director is known to sit viewing the monitor with a blank expression, but this time, we were happy to see smiles and thumbs up gestures."

Similar to his role as a supportive husband in the series, Kelvin expressed that he was all for equality, and said, "In fact, I'd much rather be the one staying at home taking care of the kids if she's happy doing the work that she likes best."

When the story begins, Yu Zhen's eldest son Shen Feng and Mei Feng's eldest daughter Na Na are high school sweethearts who have been married for two years.

Unbeknownst to the two mothers, the marriage is headed for a break-up because Shen Feng is a workaholic who has been neglecting his sassy dancer wife Na Na so much that she nearly ends up seeking solace in the arms of her ex-lover Shu Wei.

Yet, while the two bickering in-laws wish to hear the pitter-patter of little feet, nothing prepares them for the earth-shattering news when the stork finally pays a visit. While trying to help Shen Feng and Na Na patch their marriage, the two younger children Hui Min and Qi Jian surprise their elders when they decide to get married because Hui Min got pregnant!

Comely teen actress Joey, who plays the young woman headed for a shot-gun marriage, lamented, "I had to give my first kiss to Lawrence while filming this series and he kept saying he couldn't believe it was my first time."

As Joey's love interest, Wong said he was thrilled to play a young college student in the throes of first love and gleefully added, "Taking on this role was simply brilliant as it has made me feel like I am 18 all over again."

■ Keep up with the In Laws, which airs on Ntv7 from 9.30pm to 10.30pm every Monday to Thursday, starting tomorrow.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Isnin, 18 Februari 2013