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Review
by Kozo: |
This extremely
popular manga-inspired comedy is a charming and deceptively
frivolous affair. Dior Cheng is Jerry, a slacker who
does something with computers for a living and resides
in a brightly colored apartment that looks like a set
from Sesame Street. He falls for Fong-Fong (Gigi
Leung), who looks sort of anime-ish with big eyes and
short hair.
Meanwhile, Jerry’s best buds
Cherrie (Sammi Cheng) and Hui-Lok (Eric Kot) look on
while experiencing their own Gen-X issues. Hui-Lok doesn’t
appreciate his faithful girlfriend Man-Yi (Michelle
Wong Man), and Cherrie is annoyed watching Jerry and
Fong-Fong because she likes Jerry, too. Big surprise.
Anyway, it’s all very cute and such as these people
battle with hearts and heads before the real plot shows
up: Jerry must choose between Fong-Fong and Cherrie.
And in doing so, he reaches into the depths of his soul
or something like that.
Actually, I’m being unfair
in my cynicism towards the film. Despite the overdone
situations, wacky characters, and predominantly silly
tone, there is a real feel to Joe Ma’s Gen-X comedy.
In showing the childish and silly nature of his characters,
he inevitably leads us to fortune-cookie message of
the film: time for Jerry to grow up. Yep, this is a
coming-of-age movie mixed with wacky sappy stuff. Jerry
eventually chooses to be with one of the female leads,
and in doing so he makes a life-altering choice that’s
all but unseen underneath the final act’s wacky Mission:
Impossible parody.
The final message is ultimately
a typical movie one concerning commitment, but the writing
and the leads bring things across in a fun, playful
manner. Given the time, this movie can affect - especially
to the movie’s primary twenty something audience. The
cast is likable and attractive, but Sammi Cheng is the
standout with her charming natural performance and terrific
alto singing voice. The manga influence can be seen
in the candy-colored sets and even the Canto-pop montages.
The highlight of this film is a parody of Andy Lau’s A Moment of Romance that will leave you in stitches.
Give Joe Ma some credit; it’s three in a row for this
guy. (Kozo 1996) |
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