Working himself up through the ranks as both assistant director and even executive director (meaning he may have had more to do with the likes of Forbidden City Cop and Dragon Squad than many may think), Lo Kim-Wah has also plowed a path as director that's gone by relatively unnoticed. Although he's returned to assistant gigs in between, he occasionally sits in the main chair and Sunshine Cops sees him in that position making relatively fine noise from it.

A commercial fluff piece on a slightly minor scale, it allows for first-time writer Felix Chong (Infernal Affairs) to feature a media power examination, flirts with teen romance and action esthetics not often found in a small vehicles like this. Flirting quite cleverly with the Gen-X Cops feel and even SDU movies such as Gordon Chan and Dante Lam's Option-series, Chong and director Lo rightfully takes the opportunity to provide a counter balance rather than be yet another tired imitation. The triad genre of the late 90s for instance got deconstructed in hilarious ways (Once Upon A Time In Triad Society 1 & 2 chief among them) but Sunshine Cops isn't out to satirize a genre. It's rather taking a cue from various sources to make its own multi-mood product. Successful on a full scale it is not as it does quite openly tick off its checklist but the package is an infectious ride, one various audiences may take to heart a bit, including action junkies.

Johnnie To's Breaking News subsequently painted a picture of media manipulation but Felix Chong's script echoes less of a cynical view on it and presents the image concept more favourably. Although someone forgot to tell us that the police force apparently ARE desperate for an image make-over, the idea is treated as an actual good one and the duo chosen for the task even transcend their pop star status by actually being good cops (although them turning up on the scene of crimes quite conveniently does stretch believability a bit). Lo Kim-Wah speaks in a frenzied way but squeezes entertainment value out of the rise to fame of the contrasting duo. One from a family of cops and one motor-mouthed island kid not opposed to fame. It is refreshing though that neither character falls too deeply into the temptations but remains focused as civil servants.

Interludes of possible light romance (featuring a spunky but unexceptional debut act by future The Eye-star Angelica Lee), backlash of the media attention and the expected bad guy plot that will ultimately prove the worth of these guys makes sure Sunshine Cops never grows into a REEEAALLY clever vehicle and the dangerous tone the filmmakers strive for is rather absent despite some unusually crafty fight set pieces (for its time and size of the production) by Ma Yuk-Sing. But sufficient casting and a slick frame are assets that drive proceedings nicely forward and while the team of Stephen Fung and a dubbed Ken Cheung never approaches classic, you have a funny, likeable clown in Fung to decently contrast Cheung's, straight-laced Harry. Andrew Lin is saddled with the standard villain role, being rather poorly dubbed while Phillip Kwok turns up in a cameo as an action director. One of the few times we get to hear Kwok's real voice in Cantonese.

Lo Kim-Wah continued to plow in unexceptional teen horror territory together with Stephen Fung in Shadow subsequently and certainly remains an obscure player. But that's ok because Hong Kong needs these guys working in smaller venues, honing their creative craft and just as much as the Hong Kong Police Force plants a seed for future cadets in the film, Sunshine Cops represents something growing in Lo Kim-Wah's hopefully bright career.

On is certainly a happy-go-lucky kinda guy, and he provides most of the laughs in the movie by his acute statements about everything which he has an opinion of (and he certainly has a-plenty) whereas Sammy is the more serious and firm-footed of the two. What I like about the movie too is that both they guys have 'normal' families, you know, supportive parents and the siblings. This is a clear departure where movies usually like to show some kind of a dysfunctional family, which would go to explain the dysfunctional characters.

Both the cops are put busy, with a hectic schedule of promotional activities like photo sessions for posters and ads, filming for television commercials, handling out leaflets and recruiting missions at high schools. With the media constantly on their back, they lost their privacy as well and began to have doubts about the whole thing, for these are not the reasons they choose to become a cop in the first place. They have become 'models' and no longer cops. And they both are interested in Katy, a teenage schoolgirl. But there is not competition or any animosity between the two, just all three of them having fun together. During a party at the school gym, a gang of thugs 'crashed' in and held the students hostage. To get straight to the point, of course the Sunshine Cops saved the day.

What I find enjoyable about the movie is that it is a no-thinking-required kind of movie, just sit back and enjoy, and laugh. There are some faults, if you want to look for them. Like what are 2 cops doing with a teenage schoolgirl, and underaged too. Hah, what kind of image would that project? But don't think too much, and it isn't the kind of movie that will stick in your mind after watching it, just enjoy while it lasts. I certainly did.

Stephen Fung and Ken Chong play two young, good-looking cops who are chosen to head a new campaign: The Sunshine Cops. This PR driven initiative is an attempt to give the police force a much needed new image - out go the typical stuffy stereotypes and in come this cool new duo who represent the future of law enforcement. All starts off very well as the Sunshine Cops become icons in the press and role models to the young. However, the media shows it's fickle nature as the duo's friendship with a high school student comes into sharp focus. In quick succession comes their humiliation at the hands of a ruthless kidnapper and then the suspension of the Sunshine Cops project. The dejected heroes are presented with an opportunity to redeem themselves when an exclusive school is targeted by the kidnapper and only the Sunshine Cops can help.

Fung's role in Gen-X Cops was a brooding and not very sympathetic member of the Gen-X team. Here, he plays the complete antithesis. Fung injects his character (H20) with immense charm and with an infectious warmth that fills the screen. Alongside him is the more serious, yet equally charismatic character of Sammy (Ken Chong) who is the perfect foil for his Charming partner. The great on-screen chemistry of the two leads help this stylish and hugely enjoyable caper move along at a lesuirely, but absorbing pace. Linked to this is the fine mixture of accurate comedic digs at the media and eye-catching action set-pieces.

The ending falls slightly short of the high standard of the previous 70minutes and does stop Sunshine Cops hitting the very highest level. Nevertheless, this is a superb and greatly encouraging piece of modern Hong Kong film-making.

The basic premise is simple: To boost the image of the Police Force, the Commissioner summons an internal summit to explore ways of cultivating 'idol cops' - crime-fighters who not only perform heroic tasks but who look like believable heroes. These cops are basically the svelte and savvy arm of the Police Force, who enhance the general public interest in the Force by looking good and hopefully, acting smart all the time.

Can we get enuf of these teeny-bopper movies?

Fronting this lively actioner is Stephen Fung, whose dimpled smile one may find familiar due to prior appearances in HK outings such as Three Injured Cops, Gen-X Cops, as well as critically-acclaimed The Poet. Avid tabloid readers may also remember his moniker being romantically linked every now and then to singer-actress Karen Mok.

The other hunk who ups the libido factor in Sunshine Cops is Ken Chang, a singer-actor from Taiwan who plays Fung's partner-in-crime-busting as well as rival-in-love in the movie. Their object of affection is none other than pixie-faced Angelica Lee, who as her real name suggests, is this rich lil' girl who can't bear to break one of their hearts.

Cliché as this may sound, Sunshine Cops offers good fun for audiences who are forgiving towards teen flicks. I mean, one can't be watching Ten Things I Hate About You, and be really expecting a Taming the Shrew, right?