| The second Hong Kong made live action adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo's manga City Hunter (the other being Wong Jing's less than faithful take on it, starring Jackie Chan) sees Michael Chow and Eric Kei team up behind the scenes (also on The Spirit Of The Dragon the following year), handling script- and producing duties while also serving up a fun, MUCH cheaper time than said Lunar New Year film from Golden Harvest. Michael Chow is Maang Boh (the Cantonese name for the lead character Ryo Saeba and the pronunciation created the English title of the film), a womanizer, molester and kickass crime fighter. The subtitles sum him up well as "competent but horny" and his adventure prior to setting up his own detective bureau is about protecting Sheron (Pauline Suen), the daughter of a triad boss...
Michael Chow is a fine fit and sinks his teeth pretty deep into this tasteless character but the movie stumbles when dealing ONLY with his attempts at getting laid (even in drag he fails). However the combo of his over the top skills in avoiding bullets, catching bottles, sniffing out and in general climbing every obstacle he's faced with (sometimes helped along by his oversized partner Monster, played by Alex Ng) shows low budget creativity as director Yuen Jun-Man (Nightlife Hero) goes to work with action director Chin Kar-Lok. Appearing less colourful than Wong Jing's adaptation but suitably bringing the audience into a cartoonish Hong Kong world, the likeability is very large despite many flat escapades. Even Maang Boh's sensitive side gets an examination and it basically will never be able to come out as then the perverted one has to go. Can't have that. Also with Francoise Yip, Eric Kei, Ricky Yi and Herman Yau. |
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