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Review
by Kozo: |
Precursor to Andrew Lau’s Young and Dangerous series
finds Dior Cheng as Melvin, a Temple Street boy who isn’t
exactly a triad, but pretty much does the same stuff. One
night while hanging with pal Crab (the annoying Eric Kot),
Melvin accidentally kills a triad who’s pushing around Sue
(the beautiful Wu Chien-Lien).
Melvin gets sent up the river for
four years, and when he gets out he finds himself stuck in
those dilemmas that ex-con boys from Temple Street find themselves
in (i.e. how to make a living, what to do about triad buddies,
and how to handle Sue’s long unrequited love for him). Despite
getting a job as an insurance salesman (thanks to Sue), Melvin
finds himself unable to escape his Temple Street roots because
“everytime he tries to get out, they pull him back in.” Furthermore,
he’s persecuted by Sue’s dad, who just doesn’t like those
boys from Temple Street. And there’s an unsavory loan shark
after both Crab and Melvin. Sue and Melvin get together, dad
gets pissed, and then IT ALL GOES TO HELL.
This is an OK film, but the drama
is a little self-indulgent considering that the plotline is
just your standard triad drama stuff regurgitated for the
umpteenth time. From the way it ends, you’d think The Mean
Street Story was about the love between Sue and Melvin,
but in truth, Sue is little more than glorified scenery. That
said, she’s ably played by Wu Chien Lien, and Dior Cheng is
his usual handsome, wooden self. Eric Kot is Eric Kot; take
him or leave him. Andrew Lau hits us with his typical hand-held
cinematography that either jazzes or annoys. Entertaining,
but not noteworthy or special. (Kozo 1996) |
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