 |  |  | | | Stephen Chow does not fill up every screen and his performance is mill-run. Rather Sammi Cheng stands out, and Pat Leung Kam steals the show. The story of little people banding together against hard times is as old as Cantonese movies itself, and a tested formula for lunar New Year films. Li Lik-chi sticks to his TV sensibility of making fun of the clichés in old Cantonese movies - the psychological explanation of Stephen's playboy character is amusingly similar to that of the traditional loose woman, and Eric Kot's sacrificing himself for the sake of his beloved is a replica of Kar Ling. The swapping of male/female roles once more give testimony to the prevalent "little man" inferiority complex. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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| | | | | Arriving on the heels of the failures of Lawyer Lawyer and All's Well Ends Well 97, pic testifies to the dearth of Chow's comedy talents. Stephen "Not Funny" Chow's fatal flaw is his inability to play against anyone. Here his bloated ego is best seen in the scene with Eric Kot relaying his failed romance in the cafe. From beginning to end he never looked at Kot; there's not even a trace of a "I'm listening" sort of expression. Can't have Chow play solo all the time. It's hard on him and the audience. Can't clap with just one hand. One sure misses his early partnership with Sandra Ng and Ng Mang-tat, or the latest with Karen Mok in God Of Cookery. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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| | | | | A typical Chinese New Year flick that succeeds in bringing out human emotions. Every major character has a soft spot which livens up even stereotypes. In the end love resolves all conflicts; even the bad guy gets romantic. A real happy ending for all. Treatment of subject matter one-ups Chicken And Duck Talk, with real grass-root characters. Unfortunately the local colors of Tai Kok Tsui are not fully exploited. Pic would have attained greater heights had it paid more attention to the scenery like Legend Of The Dragon. Stephen Chow's subdued performance as Ah Shui is a big improvement over the "I am Stephen Chow" attitude in previous outings. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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| | | | | A typical happy happy Chinese New Year film that is however more than the summation of a mob of stars. Stephen Chow and Lee Lik-chi show understanding for and affinity with community, and make thoroughly convincing depiction of small people banding together against hard times, and quaint romances of minor characters. The storms in the small cafe, and the coming and going of all sorts of small people, are depicted with humor and lots of local colors. The cast, from Stephen Chow to guests and supporting actors, is competent. Most outstanding are Pat Leung Kam, Sister May and Sammi Cheng. As a lunar New Year film about tenacious and resourceful little guys joining forces to ride through difficult times, pic is very much in tune with today's Hong Kong and should garner much identification. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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