THE BANQUET: Looks Delicious but..

THE BANQUET (drama in Mandarin)
Cast: Ziyi Zhang, Daniel Wu, Ge You and Qing Nu
Director: Feng Xiao-gang
Time: 128 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? The emperor is killed and his throne usurped by his brother (Ge You) who also has designs on the beautiful empress (Ziyi Zhang). The usurper sets out to kill the crown prince Wu Luan (Daniel Wu) but fails. This sets off a series of court intrigues that involves revenge, betrayal and deceit.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? Yes, the plot is a combination of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, MacBeth and even Romeo And Juliet. The motives and goals have been altered to suit the time frame of 10th Century China, the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. This production, obviously, is not to retell Shakespeare but an attempt at ‘poetic cinema’.

HIGHLIGHTS: Everything is mesmerisingly beautiful and opulent. This Banquet is a visual feast, with fantastic costumes, the biggest set of a Chinese palace ever built, and eye-boggling martial stunts by Yeun Wo-ping. Yeah, there are ‘wire-fu’ involved but these are more like dances with swords than fighting. The photography (by Zhang Li), a play on the colours gold, red and black, is superb and the Tan Dun’s music score adds the beat and nuance to the action. Ziyi is deliciously fetching and memorable as the scheming empress (Gertrude) while Ge You is fittingly vulnerable and pathetic in the Claudius role. Daniel Wu and Qing Nu are just adequate (as Hamlet and Orphelia, respectively).

LOWLIGHTS: Like the other China directors, Feng Xiao-gang fools around with narrative logic, providing ridiculous twists to its plots. These, however, are more forgivable than the incomprehensible ending that leaves us mystified.

THE LOWDOWN: Like the Imperial feasts of yore, this Banquet looks stylish and delicious but it is not filling enough.

Your WEEKEND PIC (Sept 29 - Oct 1)

(A guide to help you plan your cinema-going)

1. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (comedy with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway) Rated * * * (out of 4): Just watching Streep as the Cruella De Vil of the fashion world is worth the price of the ticket to this witty, biting satire. A delight for most women.

2. MIAMI VICE (crime thrilla with Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx and Gong Li) Rated * * * (3 stars): This screen version of the 80’s TV series rocks and sizzles with fast, explosive action and steamy love scenes. Too bad, our Censors also came in for a piece of the action…

3. THE BANQUET (Chinese rendition of Shakepeare’s Hamlet with Zhang Ziyi, You Ge and Daniel Wu) Rated * * * (3 stars): Ever attended a feast where everything looks good and stylish but the food is not that filling or fulfulling? Well, this movie is somewhat like that, beautiful yet detached....


4. ROB-B-HOOD (Cantonese comedy with Jackie Chan, Louis Koo and Michael Hui) Rated * * * (3 stars): Jackie takes a change as a hood who kidnapes a baby and gets a attack of conscience. Typical Jackie flick but with emotions added.

5. D.O.A: DEAD OR ALIVE (adapted from the videogame, this one stars Devon Aoki and Jaime Pressly) Rated: * * ½ (2.5 stars): DOA is all about T and A. And if you still don’t know what it is all about, please read the review below. Cheap adolescent fun.

DEVIL WEARS PRADA: A Biting Satire

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (comedy satire)
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt
Director: David Frankel
Time: 105 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? A frumpy fresh grad, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), applies for a job at the high class fashion magazine Runway as personal assistant to its editor Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep), a boss straight out of Hell. She gets the job and realises that in order to fit in, she has to change. Not just her sense of fashion and her body size, but also her lifestyle, her sense of values and her friends. In short, she gets seduced by the Dark Side of the Force and becomes a slave to Miranda.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? Lauren Weisberger’s novel, upon which this movie is based, stirred the interest of the fashion industry and fashion-watchers. It had many readers trying to match fictional characters with their real-life counterparts. For those who aren't members of the fashion inner circle, the satire is obvious but some of its targets may not be. The movie is relentless in its cynical attitude toward a culture obsessed with style and an industry that wallows in its own self-importance.

HIGHLIGHTS: There are basically two plots at work here: the almost brutal attack on the fashionistas (nicely supported by veteran Stanley Tucci as Nigel, Andy’s mentor) and the melodrama on the life of Andy who represents every woman out to carve out a career in the high stakes world. As the protag, Hathaway is believable enough, blending in with the story rather standing out. Streep, as expected, is the icing on the cake as the Cruela De Vil of fashion. She has rather few scenes but they crackle with energy whenever she appears. Blunt and Tucci too hold their own in this juicy satire that should delight women audiences and fashion followers.

LOWLIGHTS: The pace seems to slacken when the movie shifts from satire mode to melodrama. Andy’s personal life is boring and clichéd but I guess this is intentional. Also, note that her job as Miranda's assistant, which "every girl would kill for", is a lot of bull. She is nothing more than an errand girl to her boss, so what's there to kill for it?

THE LOWDOWN: A witty, well-made comedy and a welcome change to the recycled stuff we have these days.

YOUR WEEKEND PIC -- Sept 22 - 24

(A guide to help you plan your cinema-going)

1. MIAMI VICE (crime thrilla with Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx and Gong Li) Rated * * * (out of 4): This screen version of the 80’s TV series rocks and sizzles with fast, explosive action and steamy love scenes. Too bad, our Censors also came in for a piece of the action…

2. THE BANQUET (Chinese rendition of Shakepeare’s Hamlet with Zhang Ziyi, You Ge and Daniel Wu) Rated * * * (3 stars): Ever attended a feast where everything looks good and stylish but the food is not that filling or fulfulling? Well, this movie is some what like that. Beautiful yet detached...

3. THE HEAVENLY KINGS (Cantonese mock documentary by Daniel Wu ) Rated * * * (out of 4): HK star Daniel Wu forms a boy band for this ‘mockumentary’ on the music industry in Hong Kong. Great insights for Cantopop fans. (Exclusively at Cathay Cineleisure Damansara).

4. D.O.A: DEAD OR ALIVE (adapted from the videogame, this one stars Devon Aoki and Jaime Pressly) Rated: * * ½ (3 stars): DOA is all about 'T and A'. And if you still don’t know what it is all about, please read the review below. Cheap adolescent fun.

5. S’KALI (local drama in English with Zimy Rozan and Jayaram Nagaraj) Rated * * (2 stars): A tale of five close friends who have to grapple with friendship, love and separation. Slow and talky but with some surprises... (Exclusively at Cathay Cineleisure Damansara).

HEAVENLY KINGS: Boy Band Blues

THE HEAVENLY KINGS (mock documentary)
Cast: Conroy Chan, Andrew Lin, Daniel Wu and Terence Yin
Director: Daniel Wu
Time: 85 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)


WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? If the recent Rock School showed us how to make it as a rock musician, this ‘tongue-in-cheek’ documentary should give us an idea about how to form a boy (or girl) band and rock the music industry. At least for a while…
The multi-million dollar music industry in Hong Kong is such a dog-eat-dog world that it takes a lot more than just talent and skills to break into it, let alone survive. Opening segments of the movie also tell us how popular songs are easily downloaded from the Internet by ‘collectors’; how recording companies skew their contracts with new artistes to their own advantage; and the crazy things artistes have to do to get one-up on their rivals.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? The Heavenly Kings is purportedly about director Daniel Wu’s real-life boy band Alive, a quartet of friends who decided to try their hand at cutting a music CD even though only one of them could actually sing. The boys are Conroy Chan, who calls himself as the fattest member of any band; Andrew Lin, a brooding and meticulous guy who can’t sing or dance; Terence Yin, the only one who has any singing experience; and of course Wu, the ‘prettiest’ and ‘coolest’ of the lot.
After sacking their proposed recording company (for changing the terms of the agreement), the boys decide to do it all by themselves. They upload their own songs on the Internet, and then claim that someone has stolen their intellectual property. The subsequent publicity about the 'theft' is enough to launch their career as a boy band.

HIGHLIGHTS: For this ‘mockumentary’, Wu employed only a crew of three, armed with just some video cameras, a boom mike and the presumption that people would actually pay to see his ‘fly-on-the-wall’ perspective on how to break into the music scene. The cameras follow the four boys everywhere (including the toilet) to get fake candid footage on their lives as wannabe pop stars. And, expectedly, they also throw in fart jokes for good measure.
These scenes are inter-cut with honest real-live interviews with Cantopop idols like Miriam Yeung, Nicholas Tse and Jacky Cheung – and some tacky web cartoons that serve as flashbacks and ‘thought bubbles’.
I must admit that once we get over the initial 'shock' over the truth of this 'documentary', it is easy to go with its flow. There are many insights into the music industry to be gleaned from this offering, and there is even tension in the 'partnership' of Alive. Terence, for instance, is so tardy at their road shows that he nearly derails the band's performance. And of course, Daniel Wu's fans will get to learn a whole lot more about him.

LOWLIGHTS: I abhor the animated segments. They are supposed to provide comic relief but they make the movie look more amateurish instead.

THE LOWDOWN: On the whole, however, this mockumentary works. Come to think of it, the idea is so simple and effective that we wonder why no one had thought of it earlier.

DOA: DEAD OR ALIVE - It's all about T&A

DOA: DEAD OR ALIVE (action thriller)
Cast: Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, Brian J White, Holly Valance and Natassia Malthe
Director: Corey Yuen
Time: 90 mins
Rating: * * ½ (out of 4)

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? Let’s face it. DOA is all about ‘T and A’.
With its derivative Matrix-styled moves, can we expect Technique and Artistry in the action and fighting stunts of its stars? How else can we have a pouting queen like Princess Kasumi (Devon Aoki) bringing a whole imperial army of battle-ready soldiers on their knees, skipping over their heads and then soaring over the hill into the sea?
But no. DOA is all about ‘T and A’.
Under the direction of globally-acclaimed stunt choreographer Corey Yuen, there has to be a certain amount of Talent and Appeal. Or how can one expect to draw the crowds to yet another screen adaptation of a videogame? So many such adaptations had been so disappointing that even its videogame fans had sworn to avoid them.
No. DOA is only about ‘T and A’.
With its 'kill 'em all' tournament on an idyllic island as the main plot, can this movie be about inducing Testosterone and Adrenaline among the viewers? All that no-holds-barred duelling and brawling ought to make us grip our arm-rests in Tension and Anticipation over which of the charismatic heroines would be the victor.
But again, no. DOA is just about ‘T and A’.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Now, if your patience is running thin over what this ‘T and A’ is, it should be obvious right from the start. DOA is all about Tits and Ass! Well, weren’t you attracted to this movie by the hot babes on the poster? Didn’t you hear about that eye-boggling sequence where one of the top contenders (Holly Valance as Christie) knocks out three guys after coming out of the shower – all in the process of putting on her bra?
No? Then how about that touted beach volleyball game where the female stars, like Jaime Pressly and Sarah Carter, go ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Bikini Line’ and dive for the ball?

HIGHLIGHTS: Yeah, if it is eye-candy you are going for, then DOA delivers – with digitally-enhanced boob sizes and Wonderbras. Now, if you are asking for stuff like a credible storyline or reasonably good acting, you are asking way too much.

LOWLIGHTS: To be fair, the main female cast deliver what is expected of them: cool poses and nifty moves for the camera. Aussie singer-turned-actress Valance is the hottest of the lot, while Natassia Malthe (as non-combatant Ayane) is the weakest. However, the most irritating performance comes from Eric Roberts (as the villain Donovan) who hams his way through the movie.

THE LOWDOWN: I suppose there are also a lot of loopholes in the subplots about a search for a long-lost brother and a burglary attempt at the DOA headquarters. Sorry, I just can't list them here. I was justifiably distracted by all that ‘T and A’.

YOUR WEEKEND PIC (Sept 15-17)

(A guide to help you plan your cinema-going)

1. MY SUPER Ex-GIRLFRIEND (fantasy romantic comedy with Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson) Rated * * * (out of 4): Breaking up is hard to do but what if your girlfriend is a superhero? Nice sitcom-styled caper with some over-the-top gags.

2. THE BANQUET (Chinese rendition of Shakepeare’s Hamlet with Zhang Ziyi, You Ge and Daniel Wu) Rated * * ½ (2.5 stars): Ever attended a Banquet where everything looks good and stylish but the food tastes bad and is not even filling. Well, this movie is something like that.

3. MY NAME IS FAME (romantic comedy with Lau Ching-Wan and Huo Si-yan) Rated: * * * (3 stars): This is the Hong Kong version of A Star Is Born with an engaging performance by Lau and newcomer Huo. Nice date movie for couples.

4. YOU, ME & DUPREE (comedy with Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson and Matt Dillon) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): After crashing weddings, Wilson is into breaking up marriages as a good-for-nothing buddy who overstays his welcome at the house of newlyweds Hudson and Dillon. Strictly for Wilson fans.

5. S’KALI (local drama in English with Zimy Rozan and Jayaram Nagaraj) Rated * * (2 stars): A tale of five close friends who have to grapple with friendship, love and separation. Slow and talky but with some surprises (Exclusively at Cathay Cineleisure Damansara).

MIAMI VICE: It Still Sizzles!

MIAMI VICE (crime thriller)
Cast: Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gong Li, John Ortiz and Naomi Harris
Director: Manfred Mann
Time: 133 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)


WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? There’s good news and bad news for those keen on catching this remake of the popular Eighties TV series on our screens. First, the good news: Miami Vice sizzles in both its action and romance departments -- with Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx and Chinese screen siren Gong Li delivering the goods.
Under the direction of Michael Mann (who also helmed some of the TV series), this updated crime thriller is both stylish and intense, keeping our adrenaline pumping almost throughout the movie.
The bad news? Our Censorship Board has sliced off much of the ‘icing’ and we are left with only our imagination of what could have happened -- and some choppy sequences. Still, Miami Vice is riveting enough for the most of its two-hour footage.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? The action starts off in a pounding disco where our heroes, Sonny Crockett (Farrell) and Rico Tubbs (Foxx) are on a stakeout. Halfway through, however, Crockett gets a disturbing call from an undercover agent and soon discovers that the FBI has been infiltrated by the drug lords. Result: A whole sting operation is blown to bits, including some of its agents.
To plug the leak, Crockett and Tubbs are assigned to infiltrate a vicious drug syndicate led by Jose Yero (John Ortiz) and the kingpin Montoya (Luis Tosar) in Haiti. Posing as ‘transporters’, the two cops meet Montoya’s business associate Isabella (Gong Li) and Crockett takes a fancy to her.
They go to Havana on a date, then to bed and gradually become lovers. Unknown to Crockett, his relationship with Isabella also incurs the jealousy and wrath of someone very dangerous. He sets our heroes up for a huge fall – and this also involves Tubbs’ girlfriend Trudy (Naomi Harris).

HIGHLIGHTS: The ‘private life versus public duty’ theme is played to the hilt here, and the sense of danger and doom is palpable, aided in no small measure by a throbbing soundtrack. After some initial scenes of exploding missiles piercing through bodies, we brace ourselves for more to come as the two cops try to convince the nervous crooks of their usefulness to their cause. Yes, despite knowing at the back of our minds that a sequel should be pending, we still get the pervasive sense of danger and betrayal throughout the movie – even in the love affair between Isabella and Crockett.
And although the whole set-up is about an odd-couple pair of cops, there is none of the usual buddy-bonding rituals that we get in movies like Starsky & Hutch. Crockett and Stubbs exchange very few lines as director Mann, who also wrote the screenplay, hones up on the action and the narration. There is also chemistry between Farrell and Gong Li who appear rather awkward at first. However, it is evident that it is these two who provide the human factor in the story and make it compelling. The Tubbs-Trudy affair gets scant screen time but the relationship has an outcome that will also rock us.

THE LOWDOWN: In The Eighties, the Miami Vice TV series redefined music, fashion and scenic locations. Here, Mann recreates them all in the opening scenes and moves on to more important stuff. Like concentrating on the sting op, the romance and suspense. Yup, the ‘icing’ may be gone but there is enough excitement in the cake that remains. Get your fill of it.

S'KALI: Promising Effort by a Young Director

S’KALI (local drama in English)
Cast: Davina Goh, Jayaram Nagaraj, Derek Ong, Angeline Rose and Zimy Rozan
Director: Arivind Abraham
Time: 90 mins
Rating: * * (out of 4)

PREAMBLE: Before I get on with the review, I wish to declare certain aspects of my ‘involvement’ with the cast and crew of this movie. I hope this will dispel notions of biasness in my comments. First, I have known writer-director Arivind Abraham since he was a teenage student and a writer for the Young Reviewers column in The Malay Mail a few years ago. Davina Goh, a cast member, was also a writer for the same column. The S’kali project was the teamwork of Abraham’s group of friends, which included my son Jason, who serve as associate producers. Lastly, some parts of the movie were shot in front of my house but without any participation on my part.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? S’kali is the story of five close friends who have to grapple with the changes that confront them as they each go their separate ways in pursuit of their careers. It is also about one of the characters’ attempt to make a movie about their friendship – and S’kali opens as this movie is being screened.
Flashbacks take us to the ubiquitous mamak shop where Ravin (Jayaram Nagaraj), Sze Huey (Davina Goh), Tzao (Derek Ong), Tehmina (Angeline Rose) and Bahir (Zimy Rozan) gather regularly to catch up with one another. Ravin is writing a script for his first movie; Sze Huey, a journalist-wannabe, is writing for an online publication; Tzao is waiting for a scholarship to study overseas; Bahir is an aspiring musician hoping to get a break into the industry, while Tehmina is so overcome by family problems that she drowns herself in liquor which she hides in a flask.
Soon, love, confusion and disillusionment develop. Sze Huey and Ravin become an item and face racial prejudices; Bahir has always to wrestle with Tehmina’s drinking problem – and Tzao just broods about an unfair system, taking out his frustrations on Bahir.

HIGHLIGHTS: Thematically, the problems these youths face are universal and most people in the audience should relate to them. That’s one up for “S’kali”. Next, the cameo by the Mawi-obsessed Jason Lo (as himself) provides a few hearty laughs – and the New Year’s Eve appearance by film-maker Yasmin Ahmad (as herself) has some useful insights into script-writing, even if the scene looks rather contrived and out of place. (Like, how often does one have a Guiding Angel who appears out of the blue to set one back on track?)
However, the main cast put up a reasonably good show, playing themselves mostly. Davina Goh and Jayaram are particularly strong in the romantic scenes, while Jay Menon provides comic relief as Ravin’s brother Kumar.

LOWLIGHTS: The most biting criticism of the movie comes from one of its characters (Sze Huey) who says that the script is “all talk but not much action”. Indeed, most of the events happen off-screen and are only related in the dialogue. We learn of Tehmina’s alcohol problem but never get to see even a bottle of the said liquor. Next, when the problematic Tehmina is confronted by a ‘groper’, it happens so casually that we can’t feel the danger she is facing.
And most unfortunate is when Abraham squanders the chance for ‘high drama’ in a tragedy that befalls one of the friends. Again, we never get to see what really happened and therefore we could not feel the group’s sense of loss.

THE LOWDOWN: For a first-time effort, “S’kali” is passable and even promising when we consider the many social themes that the 23-year-old director tries to encompass. And of course, this being a digital ‘E-format’ movie, viewers have to overlook the grainy images on the screen.

NEWS: Kissing Scene in S'kali Censored

Arivind (right) and the crew and associate producers

MON, Sept 11: More than 20 seconds of a steamy kissing sequence in the local Indie movie S’kali were cut by Malaysian Censors.

This was revealed to this blogger by the movie’s writer-director Arivind Abraham during the premiere of S’kali at Cathay Cineleisure in Mutiara Damansara last Friday (Sept 8).

“The Censorship Board officials were very nice about it,” said Abraham, 23. “They explained to me the guidelines and the reason for the cuts and I accepted them. I now realize that there are many other ways to put our romantic messages across without getting foul of the guidelines.”

It is learnt that the kissing sequences involved a pair of young lovers who are going to be separated to pursue their studies abroad. S’kali was shot in the Klang Valley and Port Dickson last January. It also features cameo appearances by a well-known music industry stalwart as well as a famous local movie director.

Last Friday’s movie premiere, at a special ‘digital’ hall of the multiplex, was attended by the media, the cast and crew and their guests.

The title “S’kali” is derived from the mamak stall culture of today’s youth, meaning “Bayar sekali” or “Pay for all”. The story is about five close friends on the verge of separation, with each going for further studies. The themes involve inter-racial love, friendship, the struggles to have their work recognized and the sorrow of parting. Its main cast consists of Zimy Rozan, Davina Goh, Jayaram Nagaraj, Derek Ong and Angeline Rose.

The script was written by Abraham from his own experiences. He also serves as associate producer of the movie, together with his school mates Keith Leong, Jason Lim Tsu Yang, Samantha Tan and Bahir Yeusuff. “S’kali” is produced by Perantauan Enterprise and Asa’ad Entertainment Network Sdn Bhd.

S’kali opens exclusively at Cathay Cineleisure Damansara on Sept 14 2006


One for the album: Davina, Zimy, Derek, Angeline and
Jayaram posing with their guest Mrs Catherine Lim


The cast and crew of S'kali at the premiere on Sept 8

YOUR WEEKEND PIC (Sept 8 - 10)

(A guide to help you plan your cinema-going)

1. MY SUPER Ex-GIRLFRIEND (fantasy romantic comedy with Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson) Rated * * * (out of 4): Breaking up is hard to do but what if your girlfriend is a superhero? Nice sitcom-styled caper with some over-the-top gags.

2. MY NAME IS FAME (romantic comedy with Lau Ching-Wan and Huo Si-yan) Rated: * * * (3 stars): This is the Hong Kong version of A Star Is Born with an engaging performance by Lau and newcomer Huo. Nice date movie for couples.

3. BRIDES (romantic drama with Damian Lewis and Victoria Haralabidou) Rated * * * (3 stars): An engaging story of a mail-order bride and a photographer on a voyage from Eurpoe to the US to find a better life. Perfect for those who love ship romances. (At GSC International Screens)

4. THE ANT BULLY (fantasy adventure with voices of Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep & Julia Roberts) Rated * * * (3 stars): A boy, who takes out his frustrations on a colony of ants, learns some of life’s lessons when he is shrunk to ant size and taken to the colony. Great for the kids.

4. MONSTER HOUSE (Animated Kiddie Horror with the voices of Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Maggie Gyllenhaal Steve Buscemi) Rated * * * (3 stars): This family film recalls Halloween, Amityville Horror and A Nightmare On Elm Street but not to worry, it won’t really freak the kids out.

5. LITTLE MAN (A typical, nonsensical Wayans Brothers comedy) Rated: * 1/2 (1.5 stars): If you can accept that a yuppie couple can mistake a 2.5-foot midget for a baby, then you deserve to be ‘bowled over’ by this crap.

YOU, ME & DUPREE: Like a Sitcom Caper

YOU, ME AND DUPREE (comedy)
Cast Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson, Matt Dillon and Michael Douglas
Director: Anthony and Joe Russo
Time: 100 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? After the success of Wedding Crashers, Owen Wilson is back as Randolf Dupree, a slob and Best Man to Carl Peterson (Matt Dillon) at his wedding to Molly Thompson (Kate Hudson) in Hawaii. Dupree is supposed to be back at work in the mainland when the couple return from their honeymoon. Instead, Carl finds him roughing it out at the local pub. Dupree lost his job, his car and apartment after being fired for going AWOL to attend Carl’s wedding.
Feeling guilty about his best friend, Carl invites Dupree to stay at his place, consoling Molly that it is “only for a couple of days”. The “couple of days” turns to weeks, and worse, Dupree makes a mess of the house and almost destroys it. Carl’s marriage flounders and as a result, Dupree gets kicked out. Here, we are supposed to say ‘good riddance to bad buddy’ but something happens and the plot takes a weird turn that seems totally out of synch with what has happened before. And before we know it, Dupree goes from intolerable slob to marriage saviour!

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL: You, Me And Dupree is not a sequel to Wedding Crashers but it should serve as one for those who could not get enough of watching Owen Wilson crashing into weddings and newlywed households. In Wedding Crashers, Wilson and Vince Vaughn play two buddies who gatecrash weddings for free food and free sex. Somehow, the movie grossed a whopping US$200 million (RM760 mil) last summer and boosted Wilson’s career playing the fun-loving cad who has problems growing up as a man.

HIGHLIGHTS: Wilson provides the usual ‘man-child’ antics as ‘marriage-crasher’ and these can be both funny and painful. You may get a few laughs here. There is some sort of a three-act play at work here and each look alien to the others. I cannot fault any of the cast for their performance, given such a roller-coaster of a script (by Mike Le Sieur). Hudson, for one, look ravishing as the cool-headed Molly, and Wilson is at his best when his character is at his worst. Why, there is even a librarian called Mandy who becomes Dupree’s love interest but never shows her face onscreen.

LOWLIGHTS: There is a subplot about Molly’s meddling father (Michael Douglas) and how he dislikes Carl and wants him to get a vasectomy! Again, this does not make sense, given his protests about how the old man loves his daughter Molly. Indeed, most of the characters here suffer from identity crises and do crazy things. Like, one minute, we see Dupree as a clumsy klutz and a good-for-nothing bore and next, he is reading Menza magazines, writing poetry and cooking European cuisine. Carl, on the other hand, starts off as a caring friend but turns into a jealous and villainous freak.

THE LOWDOWN: There are only a few laughs to be had in this scattershot comedy. And this is the main problem with You, Me And Dupree.

MY NAME IS FAME: Another Star Is Born

MY NAME IS FAME (romantic comedy)
Cast: Lau Ching-wan, Huo Si-yan and Candace Yu On-on
Director: Lau Kwok-jing
Time: 98 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

PREAMBLE: A brooding actor who has seen better days meets this eager young rookie who is determined to be in the movies. Reluctantly, he takes her under his wing and coaches her to become a star. She learns fast and even falls in love with him. Sounds familiar? Sure, you have probably seen this story being played out countless times, most famously in the remakes of A Star Is Born which was first released in 1937. It was remade in 1954 with Judy Garland and James Mason in the lead, and again in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? My Name Is Fame is the Hong Kong (Cantonese) version of A Star Is Born directed by Lau Kwok-jing. The plot is pretty much the same but the updated story offers viewers an insight into the movie industry in Hong Kong.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Poon Ka Fai (Lau Ching-wan) is an award-winning actor who feels that he should be judged by his talent and not by his inability to suck up to producers and directors. As such, he is considered foul-tempered and arrogant and shunned by the industry. Jobless and depressed, Ka Fai moonlights as an assistant with a talent agency run by an old flame (Candace Yu).
Faye Ng (Huo Si-yan) is the eager-beaver youth from mainland China who is determined to get a foothold in Hong Kong show business. She idolises Ka Fai and begs him to be her acting coach and manager. Well, he is not exactly the patient teacher but he cares for her well enough to help her avoid the mistakes he made and fend off the wolves. Of course, the inevitable happens and we get a touching love story and a few surprises.

HIGHLIGHTS: It is no surprise that Lau Ching-Wan is a veteran and a maverick at this sort of drama. His brooding, ready-to-boil-over looks are a boon to his role. However, the brightest star of the movie is Huo Si-yan, a newcomer who even manages to steal the show from the more experienced stars. Her fresh, innocent-looking face endears her to the audience and we root for her throughout the movie. Her career should definitely take a leap after this outing. Wayne Lai plays a mechanic and former actor who also provides some snide remarks about the industry.
The other surprises are the walk-in cameos by popular stars like Cheng E-Kin, Eric Tsang and Tony Leung Ka Fai, directors Gordon Chan, Fruit Chan and the legendary Ann Hui.

LOWLIGHTS: Some parts tend to drag a bit as director Lau seems to go overboard with Ka Fai’s drinking sequences.

THE LOWDOWN: On the whole, My Name Is Fame is both entertaining and engaging.

YOUR WEEKEND PIC (Sept 1 - 3)

1. MY SUPER Ex-GIRLFRIEND (fantasy romantic comedy with Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson) Rated * * * (out of 4): Breaking up is hard to do but what if your girlfriend is a superhero? Nice sitcom-styled caper with some over-the-top gags.

2. BRIDES (romantic drama with Damian Lewis and Victoria Haralabidou) Rated * * * (3 stars): An engaging story of a mail-order bride and a photographer on a voyage from Eurpoe to the US to find a better life. Perfect for those who love ship romances. (At GSC International Screens)

3. THE ANT BULLY (fantasy adventure with voices of Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep & Julia Roberts) Rated * * * (3 stars): A boy, who takes out his frustrations on a colony of ants, learns some of life’s lessons when he is shrunk to ant size and taken to the colony. Great for the kids.

4. MONSTER HOUSE (Animated Kiddie Horror with the voices of Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner, Maggie Gyllenhaal Steve Buscemi) Rated * * * (3 stars): This family film recalls Halloween, Amityville Horror and A Nightmare On Elm Street but not to worry, it won’t really freak the kids out.

5. SNAKES ON A PLANE (Disaster comedy Samuel L. Jackson and Julianna Margulies) Rated: * * * (3 stars): If you like half-baked plots and hissable scares, then book yourself a ticket for this cult movie and have a nice fright.