The plot has gambler Jersy (Cheung) winning the title of Hong Kong's best gambler from Leung Kar Yan. While celebrating, an old-timer (Wong Ting) tells Jersy about a legendary gambler named Cool (Koo), who disappeared three years ago. Jersy becomes obsessed with finding Cool, but puts that aside to take his girlfriend (Chung) to Japan. While there, they hop into a Chinese restaurant and the cook just happens to be Cool (Jersy knows it's Cool because Cool has a certain talent for throwing cards). Jersy and Cool eventually form a partnership to get revenge on the man who crippled Cool's girlfirend (Chu) and drove him from gambling.

Like most Wong Jing-affiliated films, this one has its ups and downs. Unfortunately, the downs outweigh the ups here. Probably the biggest detriment to the movie is Nick Cheung. Supposedly, this guy is the next Stephen Chow, but I really saw little of Chow's comedic talent -- or, more importantly, Chow's charisma. Chueng certainly tries hard; he uses all the elements of moy len tau (nonsense comedy) such as rapid-fire Cantonese and pop-culture references (which, in this case, turn out to be jokes about dot coms and HK expatriates like Chow Yun-Fat). But most times he just comes off as a spaz, kind of like a Hong Kong version of Andy Dick.

Conman in Tokyo could have also used some serious editing. The movie runs almost two hours (very long for a HK movie), and there are a lot of scenes which could have been trimmed or cut completely. Probably the biggest offender is a long dream sequence, which makes no sense and adds nothing to the movie (supposedly this is just actually an advertisement for a web site). Conman in Tokyo also depends on the really lame "evil twin" plot device, which has been stomped into the ground.

Still, there is some good stuff in this movie. Conman in Tokyo looks great; obviously, a large (by HK standards) amount of money was spent and it shows. Not only is there a large amount of CGI used in the movie (with varying results), but the last part of the film takes place on an actual aircraft carrier, complete with an exploding plane. The film is also shot and edited well. You can say what you want about Wong Jing productions, but there is always a nice professional look to them.

In other areas, Louis Koo puts in a good performance, giving some much-needed weight to this movie. There is some nice eye candy in the form of Christy Chung and Athena Chu. And there are several good action sequences. Ching Siu-Tung must be a genius, because he makes even Nick Cheung look like a kung-fu badass. It's too bad he couldn't do anything with the rest of this movie.

Louis Koo plays 'Cool', a once legendary gambler who retired to Japan after his partner Yeung Kwan (Ben Lam) betrayed him by attempting to kill him. As a result of the assassination attempt Cool's lover, Ho Yan (Athena Chu), was shot in the spine and left in a comatose state from which she has never recovered. In addition to that Yeung Kwan married Ho Yan so that he could torment Cool.

Jersey (Nick Cheung) and his girlfriend Nancy (Christy Chung) arrive in Tokyo on a shopping trip and, in one of those coincidences that can only happen in a Wong Jing film, find themselves in Cool's noodle shop. Jersey, a highly ambitious gambler himself, idolises Cool and when he realises that his hero is getting grief from the local Yakuza he becomes determined to help. Together they hatch a plot to rescue Ho Yan but Tetsuo, the head of the Yakuza, controls events to force Cool into one last gambling match.

This really does seem as if it was thrown together as they went along. The film does move at a steady pace and is entertaining but it relies on some ridiculous plot devices and too many rehashed ideas. The whole 'flying cards as weapons' thing has been done to death and recreating the famous dice scene from 'God of Gamblers', complete with bare shouldered tattooed Japanese woman, only emphasises the difference in quality. The climax gambling duel even takes place on a ship in international waters.

So forget the plot and enjoy the action and acting. Luckily in these departments the film is ok. Nick Cheung is quite funny, though not a patch on Chow Sing Chi to whom he is often compared, but I think Louis Koo was a poor choice for the main role as he is simply far too young to be taken seriously as a seasoned legendary gambler. There's nothing wrong with his performance and I do rate him as an actor, especially after 'Bullets Over Summer', but this wasn't the right film. Ben Lam and Yasauki Kurata are far more suitable as the film's villains. It was great to see that Yasauki Kurata is still capable of pulling off some cool moves despite being in his fifties. Christy Chung provides some excellent comic relief as the foul mouthed Nancy and is one of the high points of the film. Her role is primarily comedic as is Leung Kar Yan's early appearance where he sports a ridiculous black afro.

This film marked Ching Siu-Tung's return to directing and while there's nothing here that comes close to his previous work there are some nice martial arts and action sequences. Probably the standout action scene is where Louis Koo faces a female ninja; he uses his pack of cards while she lets loose a flurry of throwing stars. Like many other points in the film this scene relies on computer animation and while its obvious its still quite well done. Ultimately though the martial arts fights are still rather unsatisfying. Neither Nick Cheung nor Louis Koo look particularly convincing and the best moves come from their adversaries and obvious stand ins.