Personal Tailor, Feng Xiaogang's newest comedy, follows four well-dressed wish makers. Photo: Courtesy of Huayi Bro. Media Group

When making a list of the best comedy directors in the Chinese mainland, Feng Xiaogang no doubt makes the cut.

Ever since the movie Dream Factory achieved success in 1997, Feng has created film after film that audiences flock to see. Chinese moviegoers now expect his films to hit the big screen every year during the New Year's holiday season, one of the most important periods for movies in the Chinese mainland.

After devoting himself to disaster films Back to 1942 (2012) and Aftershock (2010), Feng makes a return to his comedy roots with Personal Tailor, out in theaters December 19.

As the only comedy premiering during the highly-anticipated holiday season, Personal Tailor is expected to draw a major crowd.

Dream team

In this movie, a well-dressed team of four - smartly decked out in black suits and black sunglasses - helps others to realize their dreams.

The film puts together an ensemble cast of audience favorites, including Ge You, Bai Baihe, Li Xiaolu and Zheng Kai in the lead roles, and Song Dandan, Fan Wei, Wang Baoqiang and Li Chengru in supporting roles.

Feng said Bai is the ideal actress in his mind. Her unassuming charm, great sense of humor and effortless way about her while performing create a killer combination - and one that isn't found in many actresses.

Li is a perfect "Beijing chick" and Zheng is a handsome, baby-faced guy - the types of characters Feng likes to work with in his films.

Personal Tailor also features a delightful cameo by Yu Quan, one of China's most popular male music groups, singing the film's theme song.

Feng said he hoped the song would be very dramatic in order to express the film's theme about working toward even unreasonable dreams, and he thought Yu Quan's voices could express this idea the best.

Feng used very few words to define his new comedy film: "not serious, not reasonable."

Reprising a theme

When the trailer for Personal Tailor was released online, netizens were quick to point out that the plot bears many similarities to Feng's previous work, Dream Factory.

That film also featured a team of four that sets out to help people realize dreams, no matter how far-fetched, and it laid the foundation for Feng's status as an A-level director in China.

Feng addressed this point head on at a November 28 press conference in Beijing.

"Personal Trailer is a tribute to Dream Factory. They were done by the same father," he explained at the press conference.

Feng went on to say that just as the times have changed, so have people and their dreams.

The quartet in Personal Tailor helps others to attain a much higher level of aspirations than those tackled in its predecessor. He said the new movie reflects the changes that have taken place over the past 16 years.

Unique style of comedy

During the past few years, Feng shifted his focus to serious films. Aftershock is set in the aftermath of one of the most tragic earthquakes in Chinese history and caused many to shed tears in the theaters. Back to 1942 takes place during another difficult period in Chinese history, the famine in Henan Province in 1942.

Making Back to 1942, a movie that depicts a heavy topic and tragic time in China, was Feng's dream.

Despite critical acclaim (it's the Chinese entry to the foreign film category of the 2014 Academy Awards), it did not perform as well in theaters as expected. It made 362 million yuan ($59.4 million) in box-office takings, and it never took the top-earner slot.

According to chinanews.com, Feng said that making Personal Tailor is a way of returning a favor to Wang Zhongjun, chairman of Huayi Bro. Media Group.

He once promised Wang that if Back to 1942 lost money, he would follow up with another film more likely to make money.

But this new movie never feels like a lost bet. Feng shines when depicting the comedy found in the lives of everyday people. He employs humor to ironically reveal the unspoken truths of a society.

For example, in the movie Happy Funeral (2001), a psychopathic character delivers a long speech about the high price of Chinese real estate and the mind set of rich people who are "not looking for the best, but the most expensive."

That became a classic scene from Feng's cannon of comedies, and the line, seemingly from a mad man, became a reality as well.

Favorite collaborators

In Feng's comedies, the actresses often change, but one actor is sure to be there: Ge You.

Feng and Ge have worked together on seven films, right from Dream Factory through to Personal Tailor.

Another frequent collaborator is the screenwriter Wang Shuo. As an influential writer, Wang has written screenplays for many films. After the box-office success of If You are the One and its sequel, which came out in 2008 and 2010, respectively, the triangle of Feng, Wang and Ge is once again reunited.

Besides these seasoned collaborators, Feng chose many young actors and actresses, such as Bai Baihe, Li Xiaolu and Zheng Kai.

With the golden triangle that is known to be box-office gold injected with new blood, Feng is returning to comedy with his head held high.

Feng said audiences should walk into Personal Tailor ready to laugh.

"Don't be too serious when watching this film," Feng suggested. "Just let go of yourselves."