With the brilliant pairing of five Hong Kong actors and random Jackie Chan fighting in Winners and Sinners, Hong Kong Cinema birthed the transcendent filmmaking high-water mark known as Ng Fuk Sing, the “Five Lucky Stars.” A ragtag band of two-bit criminals, the Lucky Stars met in jail where they formed an invincible union dedicated to groping comely young women and engaging in embarrassing hijinks. Among them is the infamous comedy bit where master of comedy Richard Ng strips naked and walks around believing that he’s invisible. Meanwhile, the other lucky stars make comments about his privates and attempt to watch a soccer game. That they’re in the middle of a counterfeiting scam is unknown to them. Their simple existence of cleaning houses and lusting after Cherie Chung is enough to sustain them. Thankfully, the danger they face from the evil baddies is offset by the aid of Jackie Chan as a young cop who destroys property like no one’s business. 

Okay, I’m being facetious. The first Lucky Stars film is actually quite annoying and lame, but it came during a time when HK audiences went to theaters to see exactly what this film provides: lots of nonsensical weirdness. And those audiences loved the stuff. To be honest, there is enough enjoyment in this film to make it an entertaining no-brainer. The fights are impressive and some of the comedy is really quite funny. Despite appearing in his birthday suit, Richard Ng is a fine comedian. Sammo Hung does a decent job both behind and in front of the camera, and Jackie Chan shows charisma in whatever short sequences he appears in. However, he’s completely absent from the finale, which means we’re left with some truly hilarious kung-fu posing from Charlie Ching. Most of Ching’s HK work was small roles in inconsequential films, but he’s one of the funniest things about this movie. Also, points are given for the presence of an adorable (and young) Cherie Chung. (Kozo 1998)

image courtesy of Universe Laser & Video Co., Ltd.