"BREAK-UP 100" (2014) HONG KONG FILM REVIEW

“BREAK  UP” 100 (2014) HONG KONG MOVIE REVIEW

 “BREAK UP 100″ is written for the big screen by LAWRENCE CHENG who also directed it to keep a firm grip on creative control.

Boss knows best, right?

It stars EKIN CHENG, CHRISSIE CHAU, comedian IVANA WONG and the capella group who goes by a wacko name of C ALL STAR. (are they referring to See all Stars)?

EKIN is double CHRISSIE’s age, according to the gossip mills, so the pairing is wrong.

EKIN is “too uncle-ish” to be the boyfriend.

So what’s the big deal?

The world is filled with dirty old men courting young spring chickens who are willing to get fried for money.

EKIN still looks dashing to begin with, and he is more than happy to prance around in the film acting like a kiddo.

He’s probably looking forward to a second childhood. It’s great to be young “once again”, as though we don’t know.

Yes, this film is downright silly to a fault.

It cajoles that love can be a game, and you should play games when you are bored.

And when you get tired of it, you can go in for a break up and yet another …. until you form a loop.

Then you swing back together as a couple again, when you start missing each other.

As this movie begins, the couple has arrived at break-up point “99”. One more time would complete the “100” loop.

How can you mend a broken heart?  Then go sign up for this refresher course.

Sam (EKIN) and Barbara (CHRISSIE) have been cohabiting for eight whole years.

Each time Barbara threatens to leave, Sam would give in and begs her to come back, giving her an increasing upper hand.

This time, after their 99th breakup, the couple decides to cement their love.

So they open their own cafe.

Served by employees the Four Boys this cosy cafe is frequented by the neighborhood eatery owner Shui Kee (IVANA WONG) and Sam’s primary schoolmate FreeWin.

In no time, the cafe “with the soulful difference” would become the hottest hangout cafe in town.

Especially after Sam drums up the idea of creating “the Breakup Mini Storage,” corner where customers can exhibit mementos of their breakups for like-minded lovers to see.

“BREAK UP 100″ clearly, is targeted at a young audience.

The script is excellent.

As for the  ensemble cast, the ladies beat the guys hands down.

But it is with aplomb that we must accord IVANA WONG as the next comedian on the horizon. She is a scene stealer.

Cheers!

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Local Distributor: GSC MOVIES

“HORSEPLAY” 盜馬記 (HONG KONG) FILM REVIEW

“HORSEPLAY” 盜馬記 PRESS REVIEW

Here’s a mumbo-jumbo of the plot:

Ha Mui (KELLY CHEN) is a pretty TV host, trying to make good.

She is hot on the trail of a notorious thief and reliable sources direct her to London.

She sees the trip serving as the prologue to a fantastic scoop on relics smuggling ,and as a boost to impress her bosses.

And chances would have it, she comes face-to-face with the infamous thief who goes by the name of Nine-Tailed Fox (TONY LEUNG KA-FAI) during her investigations.

This foxy guy provides some comic relief, and outwardly he appears cheeky and playful.

Nay, not everything is what it seems.

Next, enter the bumbling nerd of a detective Cheung Ho (EKIN CHENG).

He arrives in London to “protect” the multi-million TANG DYNASTY POTTERY HORSE from being stolen.

And midway through it all, you’ll find he is more a hindrance than a help.

Everyone has his own hidden agenda.

We have a top-notch Hong Kong cast. Plus exciting locales such as London and Prague.

The plot of the movie may have been inspired by a TVB recent drama series TRIUMPH IN THE SKIES 2 which  give the wrong idea that pilots and cabin crew are always frolicking on the streets of London during stopovers.

Please take note that Hong Kong is an island with an overall population of  7 million, the commoners dwelling in cramped public housings.

Not everybody can afford to travel, so the substitute is in the form of a travel movie which shows you the splendor of exotic locales.

The three veteran actors here are baby boomers.

Try sorting them in a potpourri of sorts and transport them to LONDON and PRAGUE. And be prepared for a mayhem of comedic escapades.

Every thing seems so surreal, just like stepping off a fashion spread.

You’ll wonder at KELLY CHEN who’s wearing the same red color evening gown for most part of the movie.

You tell yourself that it it’s her royal sacrifice, pursuing the nine-tailed fox, she has no time to go back to change. Believe this,chum.

What writer-director LEE CHI NGAI Lee succeeds is swarming us with breathtaking panoramic views of London and Prague.

Script-wise however, is another matter where he relies an overload of slapstick gags.

It is silly to watch the alluring female assassin  (MANDY LIEU) trying to “finish off” the Nine-tailed Fox with a pen-like needle over and over again but fails in her attempts.

The squealing ERIC TSANG and the funny man WONG CHO-LAM are tag-along stars.

You hope that the riotous film ‘HORSEPLAY” ignites like a fire-cracker.

Well, almost, with your help.

 Cha-cha-cha anyone?

Or tango?

Rating: 2.5  out of 5