R E V I E W

Dummy Mommy Without a Baby

Mei Ah. 2001.
Directed by Joe Ma Wai-Ho and Mak Kai Gwong
Written by Joe Ma Wai-Ho, Taures Chow Yin-Han, Chan Wing Sun

With Miriam Yeung, Edison Chen, Niki Chow

B A C K G R O U N D
director, in cinemas, recent and related films

Joe Ma Wai-Ho is an experienced writer, director, and producer. He leans toward more popular-minded comedies, but also made the more serious Funeral March recently. Mak Kai Gwong's first film was the generally overlooked but worthy Doctor No. He has also worked as an assistant director. Both Taures Chow Yin-Han and Chan Wing Sun have written scripts with Ma in the past.

The film opened in Hong Kong cinemas in November 2001.

M O V I E

plot
A woman fakes a pregnancy to keep her job and finds that her condition opens up previously unimagined opportunities.

performances / production
Deception as a plot line is fairly common in world cinema. Here the idea is that working-class LK Fong is desperate to keep her job. She is an assistant account executive at an advertising agency who already feels underappreciated and overworked. Then she makes a colossal goof and accidentally sends everybody at the agency an e-mail making fun of her superiors. Racing out of the office barely ahead of the firing line, she hits upon the idea of faking a pregnancy. Since employment law prevents pregnant women from being fired, she is spared the axe -- at least until she gives birth.

It's a foregone conclusion that deception in comedies must be sustained for the entire length of the movie, to be unearthed shortly before an ending that redeems all the participants. And this film follows a very predictable course. Yet the trip itself is quite enjoyable. Miriam Yeung Chin is very winning as LK. After all, her motives are not bad -- during difficult economic times, she wants to keep working. She likes the advertising business, and feels she can make a success of it if given the opportunity to do so. So her reactions to the situations that develop as the deception continues are completely understandable. It helps that her personality is down to earth. The fact that she is not interested in a romance with the CEO of the company when he unexpectedly comes to her aid, also helps the audience to root for her. Imagine, for once, a heroine who does not look to a man to solve her problems!

Edison Chen plays the CEO in a very relaxed and charming manner. He really is not interested in the advertising business. Instead he moonlights as a pastry chef at a restaurant, and drags himself into work the next morning. And though LK has her own problems, someone else does have romantic eyes for him -- LK's roommate, best friend, and co-worker, Dina, played by the lovely Niki Chow. The best chemistry in the movie, though, is between her and Miriam Yeung. It appears as though they really like each other and have been friends for years, and their bond gives substance to some of the sillier moments.

The film is not a laugh riot from beginning to end, but it is a consistently enjoyable 90-minute ride with plenty of memorable gags. Co-directors Joe Ma Wai-Ho and Mak Kai-Gwong allow the pace to slacken several times, but not to any serious damage.

Also of note in the supporting cast are Pauline Yam Bo-Lam as Monica, the evil creative director at the agency, and Hui Siu-Hung as the CEO's father, who manages to drop in on LK and Dina at the most inopportune times.

Lincoln Lo King composed by rock guitar-heavy, very flavorful score. Chow Lin Yau did a competent job as director of photography. Stanley Cheung Sai-Kit was art director; Angie Lam On Yee (Tai Chi Master, High Risk) edited the film.

rating
Category IIA. Some talk about pregnancy, but otherwise no violence, profanity, or sexual situations or dialogue.

D V D

look
The letterboxed presentation looks a trifle dark at times. The black levels are deep, but there's a lack of contrast with the colors. I'm afraid I lack the technical vocabulary to explain this in a more understandable way, but let me just say it's not the best picture I've ever seen. The source print appears fairly clean.

sound
The music on the Cantonese DTS audio track sounds very good, with a pleasant dynamic range and good use of the surround channels. The rest of the audio doesn't sound that good, but it's good enough for this comedy. Five other tracks are included: Cantonese DD 2.0 and DD 5.1, as well as Mandarin DD 2.0, DD 5.1, and DTS. It is evidently due to the multiplicity of audio selections that the disk is a flipper, with the end of side one coming about 40 minutes into the production.

subtitles
The white removable subtitles are adequate for the job, with noticeable mistakes but nothing too awkward. Also included are traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles.

features
Six chapters on each side of this two-sided DVD can be selected from a still-frame menu. The "databank" contains a brief synopsis and cast and crew listing. Click on "Extra Bones" to reach a photo gallery, "outstanding moment" (different scenes interspersed with interviews with co-director Joe Ma), "unseen footage" (deleted and extended scenes), "happier shots" (out-takes), a 19-minute "Making of," and the film's original theatrical trailer. None of the special features includes English subtitles, although most include Chinese subtitles for the Cantonese audio.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N
buy, rent, or pass?

Rent. A fine, entertaining film that does not quite rise above its material.

(Reviewed January 17, 2002)

THIS DVD IS AVAILABLE AT HKFLIX.COM