Lunar New Year comedies are supposed to be light, funny and essentially disposable. Mega-cinematic quality is not required as long as the stars are pretty and the laughs generally good. My Lucky Star, the latest Lunar New Year fluff-fest from Golden Harvest ace director Vincent Kok, certainly fits the bill with its Feng Shui-themed plot and "fresh" pairing of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Miriam Yeung. There's even a duet between the stars and a passel of "name" cameos to satiate the star gawkers. They just left out one thing: the laughs.

Yeung plays Yip Koo-Hung, an incessantly spritely girl who's known as the "Queen of Bad Luck." She's overly superstitious and uses Feng Shui to predict her days, though her success rate isn't especially high. She believes only one man can save her: Lai Liu-Po (Leung), a celebrated Feng Shui master who's also a hit with the ladies. However, his practice has a few important rules, one of which prohibits him from knowing anyone with the surname Yip. It seems that long ago, the ancestors of both Hung and Liu-Po were involved in a Feng Shui disaster which doomed Hung's family and generally made a mess of things. Hung is aware of this rule, and pretends to be named Leung to get around it. She also is immediately smitten with Liu-Po, which is hardly surprising because he's played by Tony Leung.

However, numerous obstacles get in their way. For one, Lai has to get over his phobia of Yips and realize that Hung is simply too sweet and good a girl to let go. Since Hung is embodied by Miriam Yeung, Hong Kong audiences will likely sympathize with his conflict even though Hung's behavior borders on stalking. Initial chemistry also doesn't seem to be a factor as the affection between the two just sort of appears out of nowhere, and hardly seems convincing. Then again, this is a Lunar New Year movie, where convincing storylines and characters are the stuff of fantasy. Director Vincent Kok definitely comes through there, as the story and characters of My Lucky Star aren't very interesting. Having Miriam Yeung and Tony Leung would seem to be a plus, but their lack of chemistry makes their casting less successful than expected.

There are also other cast members, and nearly all of them are big or medium-sized names. Ronald Cheng shows up as Liu-Po's Feng Shui rival, who's working for Hung's evil stepmother (Teresa Carpio) and a spoiled popstar (Chapman To, in a parody of singer Juno Mak). Other names like Mark Lui, Anya, Cheung Tat-Ming, William So, Shawn Yue, Rain Li, Alex Fong Lik-Sun AND Alex Fong Chung-Sun show up from time to time to lend star credibility to the proceedings. The familiar faces are welcome, but when the most exciting thing about a movie is wondering who'll show up next, you know it just isn't very good. And since the Twins don't show up, the film automatically loses points.

Eventually, Hung and Liu-Po must battle the bad guys to assure a future of good luck for Hung. That battle involves Fung Shui sequences up the wazoo, Ronald Cheng in drag, planted drugs and a lighting bolt from the heavens. What it all means is anybody's guess, but trying to figure it out is likely not worth the time of most people. Inebriated Lunar New Year moviegoers may get a chuckle or two out of My Lucky Star, and the pretty people could satisfy some, but as it is this is an interminable film and possibly Vincent Kok's least successful effort.

Last year's Marry a Rich Man (which Kok directed) wasn't a very strong picture, but compared to My Lucky Star, it's a certifiable Hong Kong Film Award Winner. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is a remarkable actor, and Miriam Yeung still has potential, but this film is a misstep for both. At the very least, the abundance of Feng Shui sequences will thrill those who find Feng Shui the most exciting thing EVER. However, if those people exist then I sincerely hope never to meet them. (Kozo 2003)