Heaven Can't Wait (1995)



	Heaven Can't Wait		Return to Review Archive - H
	Year:	1995	Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Jordan Chan
	Director:	Lee Chi-Ngai
	Writer:	Lee Chi-Ngai, James Yuen Sai-Sang, Aubrey Lam Oi-Wah
	Cast:	Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Bowie Lam Bo-Yi, Karen Mok Man-Wai, Jerry Lamb Hiu-Fung, Alex To Tak-Wai, Kent Cheng Juk-Si, Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui, Yip Kwong-Kim, Richard Ng Yiu-Hon, Ivy Leung Si-Man, Ha Ping, Dennis Chan Kwok-San, Bak Ka-Sin, Meg Lam Kin-Ming, Moses Chan Ho, Teddy Chan Tak-Sum, O Sing-Pui, Siu Yam-Yam, Jacqueline Law Wai-Guen, Anita Yuen Wing-Yee (cameo), Law Kar-Ying (cameo), Christy Chung Lai-Tai (cameo)
	The Skinny:	Well-produced media/religion satire is a valiant effort for a Hong Kong film. The movie comes up a bit short, but it's still an enjoyable, intelligent comedy with good performances.
	Review by Kozo:	Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is Fung, a con artist who has this thing against God. Since childhood, he's worked scams because he's never believed in the existence of a higher being. His latest con involves fake psychic Che (Bowie Lam), and they're both successful. However, Che's ego is too much for Fung, so Fung walks in hopes of a bigger score. Fung scores big when he discovers Chun (Jordan Chan), a not-so-bright fellow who Fung passes off as Master Dada, a supposed reincarnated Buddhist monk. They scam the unknowing public with fake miracles and media manipulation, but things aren't entirely as they seem. Some of Chun's outlandish predictions end up coming true, and then the requisite miracle happens that causes Fung to question his faith. Karen Mok shows up as a sexy (but shady) reporter who trades sex for sensationalism and scoops. This is typical UFO product, meaning it's shot in sync, well-produced, and pretty sophisticated for Hong Kong fare. However, the film is unable to sustain its own excellent premise. Writers Lam Oi-Wah, Peter Chan, James Yuen and Lee Chi-Ngai throw a lot of good ideas into the film, and for the most part everything seems to cohere well. The film works as an excellent satire and director Lee Chi-Ngai keeps the tone fast and light. However, the movie fizzles in the final minutes and we’re left wondering what happened and why. Too much happens, messages get mixed, and possible confusion sets in. This is certainly an enjoyable movie, and the acting is all-around excellent (Jordan Chan received an acting nomination for his role). And even if things don't ultimately gel, Lee Chi-Ngai and UFO should still be applauded for their creativity and willingness to experiment. Hopefully, practice will make perfect. (Kozo 1996)
	Availability:	DVD (Hong Kong) Region 0 NTSC Fitto Mobile Laser Widescreen Cantonese and Mandarin Language Tracks English and Chinese subtitles

		image courtesy of Fitto Mobile Laser Co., Ltd.
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