Synopsis

Ken ( Ekin Cheng) works for a Public Relations company. He is an avid reader of Kung Fu novels, so much so that he even reads them behind his files in meetings. Rumbled by his boss Ken immediately puts forward the idea that the customer, a maker of a power health drink, should sponsor a martial arts championship. Turns out that the owner of the company also likes martial arts and so Ken is dispatched to set it up.

First contacting the Shaolin Temple , Ken finds out that the last time such a competition was held their representative had run off with a Japanese woman and left the temple. However, they agree that if Ken can persuade Shek to compete they will compete also. Consequently, Ken finds himself in Japan. Lost he encounters two fighters on their way to a showdown at local dojo. Turns out that this is the very dojo of the wayward Shaolin representative. He feels that his eyesight is no longer good enough to compete. However, the lure of money and a role in a Hollywood movie makes him persuade his daughter Anna (Miriam Yeung) to accept the challenge. Anna is not impressed so Ken sets out to persuade her to go by kissing her in public and causing her to be completely smitten with him, despite the fact that he has a girlfriend already.

Anna arrives for the competition early convinced that Ken is her boyfriend. Ken's girlfriend (Denise Ho) is a tough cop. Ken and his brother live in the house of her father. When the two girls meet, Ken is at great pains to make sure that neither realizes he is dating the other. Suddenly has visions of the two at each other's throats with dire consequences. He enlist's his brother Sam's help with the result that both girls think the other is Sam's girlfriend. Ken's maneuvering and misdirection wears thin finally and it is clear that he will eventually be found out.

The American Kung Fu fighter is contracted by the company to be in an advertisement for the power drink. Ken manages to get Anna a part in the advertisement. Still stringing both girls along Ken spends time with each getting himself deeper and deeper into the tangle.

After the girls cook dinner and Sam is attacked by both girls he is not inclined to keep the secret any longer. Finally of course the truth comes out and both girls are hurt. Anna the most deeply, made worse by the fact that Ken is realizing that she may well be the girl he prefers.

Anna does very well in the martial arts competition but just as she is about to fight the Shaolin monks in the Semi final having just found out about Ken's duplicity all this time. Hurt and upset she refuses to fight and lets them win. Fortunately, Master Wisdom knows that his young monks have no way of beating the American. He confronts Anna with this fact telling her that because her father was Shaolin she can represent them.

Fighting the American it becomes clear she is overmatched in her current state. Ken decides to try to help her by being so annoying that she get's angry with him and pretends it is him she is kicking out of the ring. Finally, Ken enlists his now ex-girlfriends help to make Anna jealous enough to defeat the American.

Later Ken realizes Anna is indeed the woman he wants to date and he heads to a movie set to find her, declaring his interest and persuading her to be his girlfriend.

Review

This movie is mildly entertaining and has some funny farce like scenes. A Kung Fu movie it is not, and the heavy computer graphics are annoying although needed as none of the contestants actually appear capable of any martial arts. Ironically, the one person who would have been credible and able competently to act as a Martial Artist, Ekin Cheng, does not participate in any action in this movie.

Ekin is once again the support rather than the star of this movie. Hong Kong's current fascination with heroines rather than heroes is mysterious. Ekin is charming, handsome, cute and at times downright silly at various times during this movie. The role didn't allow him to use much in the way of serious acting, mainly needing to look pained, anxious or amused, and through out it all persuade us that he is really a nice guy. However, the film starring Ekin has a better chance than it would have had without him. He still has considerable on screen charisma which allows him to eclipse Miriam despite her being the star.

The love triangle between Ekin, Miriam and Denise is silly in the extreme. Ekin is charming yet obviously cares more for himself than either of his supposed girlfriends. His treatment of the two women is despicable to say the least. The misdirection and farce type scenes go on a little too long. The directors obviously want the audience to still like Ken despite his bad behavior. Ekin plays the slimy character well, but the lack of depth to the character is not his fault but that of the director and screen writer.

Ekin looks good with both Denise and Miriam. The pairing of Ekin and Miriam assures a box office success despite the shortcomings of the film. Miriam, however, plays the role like a silly teenager, which she is not. the result makes her annoying and thoroughly unlikable. Denise Ho is fresh in this movie, she is not often in movies. She paired well with Ekin and his veteran skills helped her to make a good attempt at the role.

The screen play is not a stellar one and though he actors do their best with the roles, the blame for the mediocre movie has to be laid at the director's door. It is a smarmy dopey romantic comedy with little to commend it other than the star power it packs. Because of that it is likely to make a respectable box office showing.

The movie is distributed by Universal on both DVD and VCD. The DVD has both a Cantonese and Mandarin track, and also Chinese and English subtitles. The trailers for the movie and a "Making of " feature are also contained on the DVD.

© 2004 cyklin.com