CJ7
A struggling Chinese father and his lonely young son find unexpected wonder and emotional lessons in a mysterious extraterrestrial toy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- eccentric
- sweet
- witty
- family movie night
- lazy weekend
What critics said
Critics generally found the film eccentric, sweet, and charming in places, but too slackly plotted and unevenly assembled to fully succeed.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dicky's relationship with the strange toy-like alien gives the single father's struggle with poverty and parenting a science fiction form.
The boy's discovery of the extraterrestrial creature drives the film's central relationship and its comic-fantastical events.
Ti Chow is a poor construction worker whose limited means frame his efforts to care for his son and provide him with a better life.
The film's strange extraterrestrial premise and comic situations are paired with candid lessons about love, values, and family loyalty.
Films like CJ7, and why
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
shares family-friendly science fiction, an innocent child protagonist, and a heartfelt friendship with an extraterrestrial visitor
The Iron Giant
combines animated or fantastical science fiction with a child-centered friendship, emotional warmth, and themes of parental protection
The Kid
shares a gentle fantasy premise, father child bonding, poverty-conscious storytelling, and an uplifting emotional register
Movie Details
- Director
- Stephen Chow
- Release Date
- 2008-01-30
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (838)
Cast
- Stephen Chow
- Xu Jiao
- Zhang Yuqi
- Lam Tze-Chung
- Lee Sheung-Ching
- Yao Wen-Xue
- Steven Fung Min-Hang
- Han Yonghua
- Huang Lei
- Poon Hang-Sang
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is CJ7 about?
- A struggling Chinese father and his lonely young son find unexpected wonder and emotional lessons in a mysterious extraterrestrial toy.
- What is CJ7 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of CJ7 as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is CJ7 violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in CJ7 as mild.
- What did critics think of CJ7?
- Critics generally found the film eccentric, sweet, and charming in places, but too slackly plotted and unevenly assembled to fully succeed.
- Which films are like CJ7?
- Films with a similar feel include E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Iron Giant, and The Kid.
- How long is CJ7?
- CJ7 runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch CJ7?
- In United States, CJ7 is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
