Hairul Azreen
Aiman
Overview
After falling for a guest, an unsuspecting hotel staff becomes embroiled in a hostage scheme and discovers true love in an unlikely place.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readA Jumbled Postcard from the Edge of Malaysian Cinema
I’ll admit it: I went into All Because of You expecting a light, frothy rom-com with a few action flourishes, something to pass the time on a lazy afternoon. What I got instead was a film that feels like it was assembled by a committee that couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Hangover, or a low-budget Ocean’s Eleven—and then gave up halfway through.
It’s not just that the genres clash; it’s that they seem to actively resent each other’s presence, like strangers forced to share a cab during rush hour.
Director Adrian Teh, whose previous work (PASKAL, Wira) leaned heavily into military action and patriotic grit, seems determined to prove he can do something lighter here. The problem? He doesn’t just dip his toes into comedy—he cannonballs into it, and the splash drowns out whatever coherence the film might have had.
The opening act sets up a promising premise: Hairul Azreen plays Ady, a hotel employee who falls for a guest (Janna Nick’s Jane) and gets tangled up in a hostage scheme. It’s the kind of setup that could work if the tone were consistent, but All Because of You lurches between slapstick, action, and romance like a drunk trying to navigate a buffet line.
Take, for example, the film’s attempt at a heist sequence. Ady and his ragtag crew (which includes a motley assortment of hotel staff and a few shady acquaintances) plan to rob a vault during a wedding reception. On paper, this sounds like the makings of a fun, if derivative, caper.
In execution? It’s a mess. The choreography is so half-hearted that the "fight scenes" look like they were staged by someone who’s only ever seen action movies through a foggy window.
Punches land with all the impact of a wet noodle, and the camera cuts away at the worst possible moments, as if the film itself is embarrassed by what’s happening on screen. At one point, a character gets "knocked out" by a blow that clearly misses by a mile, and the film tries to sell it with a poorly timed sound effect. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a magician’s trick where the audience can see the wires.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of All Because of You: Adrian Teh’s High-Octane Rom-Com with a Twist
Malaysian director Adrian Teh is best known for his adrenaline-fueled action films, but with All Because of You (2020), he took a sharp turn into rom-com territory—without sacrificing his signature high-energy style. Starring Hairul Azreen and Janna Nick, the film blends comedy, romance, and action, proving Teh’s versatility behind the camera. latestnetflix.com's take is that here’s what we know about the making of this Netflix-backed project.
A Genre-Bending Experiment
Teh built his reputation on military thrillers like PASKAL (2018) 
, but All Because of You—originally titled Pasal Kau!—marked his first foray into romantic comedy. The shift wasn’t accidental. According to sources, Teh aimed to craft a film that balanced humor, heart, and his trademark action sequences . The result? A 101-minute romp that leans into slapstick, witty banter, and over-the-top chase scenes .
The film’s genre-blending approach was a gamble, but one that paid off for Teh, who has since continued to diversify his filmography with projects like The Assistant (2022) and Wira (2022) . While All Because of You doesn’t abandon action entirely, it’s clear Teh wanted to prove he could thrive outside the war-movie niche.
The Cast: A Mix of Veterans and Fresh Faces
Hairul Azreen, who had already worked with Teh on PASKAL, took on the lead role, showcasing his range beyond military roles. Janna Nick, a rising star in Malaysian entertainment, played his love interest, bringing a mix of charm and comedic timing to the film . The supporting cast included Amerul Affendi, Henley Hii, and Namron—actors who’ve become frequent collaborators with Teh .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqBx8Js7R4w
One standout detail? The cast’s chemistry wasn’t just for the cameras. In a MulutPuakaSession interview, Hairul Azreen and Henley Hii joked about the chaotic energy on set, hinting at the improvisational spirit that likely shaped the film’s comedic moments . While the snippet doesn’t reveal specifics, it suggests a loose, playful atmosphere that may have helped the rom-com elements feel more natural.
Netflix’s Role and the Film’s Reception
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlrGwBusxU0
All Because of You was one of the early Malaysian films to land on Netflix, giving it a global platform. The official trailer, released on YouTube, teased the film’s blend of romance and action, with quick cuts of Hairul and Janna’s characters in absurd, high-stakes situations . The streaming giant’s backing likely helped the film reach a wider audience, though critical reception remains mixed.
Reviews on platforms like SensCritique describe the film as a "lighthearted" romp, praising its entertainment value but noting that it doesn’t break new ground in the rom-com genre . Still, for fans of Teh’s work, it’s a fascinating detour—a chance to see how his action-directing instincts translate into comedy.
Unanswered Questions and Rumors
Despite the film’s visibility, some behind-the-scenes details remain unclear. For example:
- Budget and Production Challenges: There’s no public record of the film’s budget or whether Teh faced hurdles shifting from action to comedy. Given his track record, it’s possible the transition was smoother than expected, but the evidence doesn’t confirm this.
- Improvisation vs. Scripted Comedy: While the MulutPuakaSession interview hints at improvisation , there’s no direct confirmation of how much of the film’s humor was scripted versus ad-libbed.
- Audience Reactions: Beyond SensCritique’s brief take , there’s little data on how local versus international audiences received the film. Netflix’s global reach may have introduced All Because of You to new viewers, but specifics are scarce.
The Bottom Line
All Because of You stands out as a rare rom-com from a director known for military thrillers. It’s a testament to Teh’s adaptability, even if it doesn’t quite match the intensity of his action films. For fans of Hairul Azreen and Janna Nick, it’s a fun showcase of their chemistry, while for Teh’s loyal audience, it’s an intriguing experiment.
If you’re curious, the film is still available on Netflix—and it’s worth a watch, if only to see how a director synonymous with explosions and tactical gear handles a meet-cute.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.