The mix of comedy and gritty violence is par for the course in HK cinema, and has been for decades. But it doesn't work well here. The movie seems undecided as to what direction it wants to go and ultimately ends up betting on all horses. A losing formula, in most cases--it certainly is the case here. There are also too many principal characters to try and keep track of, none of which are especially fleshed out. So after awhile, you just stop caring about any of them.

Beardy's character is the most interesting and could have been further developed with some tighter writing. But he too ends up a bland hitman figure with little rhyme or reason to his actions. After his old school kung fu days, Beardy was never really given a chance to do his thing in modern day movies and was sadly relegated to star in dreck such as this, like an old, sad circus horse taking a last lap around the ring before it is put out to pasture... or worse. He continues to work in minor roles and TV shows to this day, but rarely in something that is worthy of him, his beard, and his talents.

This movie is a big steaming pile of missed opportunity that seems unsure of where its going or what it's trying to say. And for the record, throwing in a little cute kid to tug at the heart strings, and some sappy, social commentary on HK gun violence, does NOT a profound movie make.

If you like ol' Beardy, then do him and yourself a favor and watch "The Victim", "Thundering Mantis", or "Legend Of A Fighter" instead.