DVD Hong Kong Golden Harvest Region 0 95 minutes Directed by Vincent Kok Written by Vincent Kok With Sammi Cheng Richie Ren Available to Purchase at HKFlix.com 
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Home | Upcoming | Reviews | In Cinemas | Links | Features | Editorials | Search R E V I E W Marry a Rich Man (2002) Vincent Kok has written many scripts in a variety of genres, and acted in even more. This was his fifth film, preceeded by Only Fools Fall in Love (1995), Forbidden City Cop (1996), Cause We Are So Young (1997), and Gorgeous (1999). The film was released for the Chinese New Year's Holiday and was a box office hit. MOVIE Plot: Sammi Cheng stars as Mi, a village girl who delivers propane for her father's business. She would like to be married. A fortuneteller plants the idea that she will marry a rich man, and this thought is reinforced by a chance meeting with three old classmates, all of whom have married for money. She ends up in Milan, Italy, falling for rich man Mas (played by Richie Ren). Will he fulfill her dreams? Performances: Sammi Cheng floats by on charm and good looks. She mugs for the camera, but only within the confines of her character. Richie Ren does not have the same wattage as a star, but he turns in a decent effort. Candy Lo plays Mi's sexually-confused friend, MT. Production: Writer/producer/director Vincent Kok has cooked up a very appealing and fluffy romantic comedy. The script makes it clear that this is a modern-day Cinderalla story, with a little riff from the 1981 Hollywood film Arthur and other fantastical elements tossed in for good measure. It's very much a star-driven vehicle, with the electric presence of Sammi Cheng enlivening the proceedings. There's really no substance to be found; this is simple, feel-good entertainment with some very funny scenes and a generally snappy pace. Beautifully photographed Italian locations and well-used special effects add to the enjoyment. After I watched this and wrote up my review, I read several others - all of which described the film as average or worse. Perhaps I was just in a certain mood to enjoy it. As always, your mileage may vary, but I recommend it. Rating: Category IIA. Some adult humor and situations. DVD Look: Sharp and clean letterboxed print, with vibrant colors. Sound: Cantonese DD 5.1 audio track has a deep sound field, a bonus with a dialogue-heavy story. Also included are audio tracks in Cantonese DD 2.0, Mandarin DD 5.1 and DD 2.0. Subtitles: White removable English subtitles are easy to read and well timed, with few, if any, mistakes. Also included are traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles. Features: Trailer and 13-minute "making of" (unfortunately lacking English subtitles). RECOMMENDATION Rent. Candy-coated tablet of good cheer. Home | Upcoming | Reviews | In Cinemas | Links | Features | Editorials | Search |