R E V I E W
U-MAN
Universe. 2002. 88 minutes.
Directed by Cheung Chi-Sing
Written by Cheung Chi-Sing
With Anthony Wong, Sam Lee, Rachel Fu
Cheung Chi-Sing wrote several scripts (Life Goes On, Days of Being Dumb) before he directed his first film, I've Got You Babe, in 1994. He has also made I Wanna Be Your Man (1994), Love and Sex Among the Ruins (1996), and I Do (2000), as well as writing The Golden Girls and A Fighter's Blues.
The film played briefly in Hong Kong cinemas in January 2002.
MOVIE
Plot: Jesus and Ken are cops who must go undercover at a Catholic girls' school to try and recover a missing backpack filled with ill-gotten money. Jesus poses as Father Gum, and Ken is enrolled as May, a disabled girl student who, because of illness, looks like a boy.
Performances: Anthony Wong is enjoyable, posing as a priest for laughs instead of the serious way he played one in City of Desire. Sam Lee is entertaining as the least-believable schoolgirl in history. Rachel Fu Tin Wing (as a teacher) and singer Gilian Chung Yan Tung (as one of the schoolgirls) are effective. Ruby Wong Cheuk-Ling and Lam Suet fill out the supporting roles, while Jade Leung has a mildly amusing cameo as the school principal.
Production: Most movies made in Hong Kong are produced for the enjoyment of people who see a lot of Hong Kong movies. That may seem like an obvious statement, but consider the concerns that have been raised about the future of the Hong Kong film industry. Will more filmmakers succumb to the lure of Hollywood? Will those will remain strip away the cultural elements and cinematic traditions that are indigenous to Hong Kong movies in order to appeal to international audiences?
So it's a genuine pleasure to watch a low-key treat like U-Man, because, to a great degree, the modest charms of this production depend upon the viewer's knowledge of Chinese actors and also recent Hong Kong movies. If you don't know that Anthony Wong has played a lot of tough cops, it's not as funny to seem him here with his hair dyed blonde, trying to pass as a priest in a Catholic girls school. If you're not yet familiar with the work of Sam Lee, you may wonder why that guy is dressed up as Osama Bin Laden, and you may not find it so funny when he poses as a uniformed schoolgirl. And if you have yet to recognize Lam Suet from his multitude of supporting roles, you may not think it's funny to see him (in black suit and white shirt, a la The Mission) with curly hair.
Throughout a number of their scenes, Wong and Lee are simply goofing around (e.g. watch how they act when they enter a church for secret rendezvous). The story meanders and comes to a stop several times so we can observe the interactions between Wong, Lee, and their various romantic interests. It's never in a hurry to rush to the finale. A few positive comments about lesbian relationships, the plight of disabled persons, and the value of family are thrown in for good measure. A couple of brief fight scenes are also included, and a variety of settings and locales are used effectively.
This film will not set the world on fire, will not attract a cult audience, and ultimately will be seen by a relatively small number of people. And that's a shame, because the easy camaraderie and winning performances make for an enjoyable 90 minutes of entertainment.
No, there's nothing new or shocking or dazzling here -- just another competent Hong Kong film, made by people who love what they're doing. It leaves you with a smile on your face. And that's no small accomplishment.
Dante Lam served as producer. Lam Wah-Chuen was both director of photography and composer of the musical score.
Rating: Category IIA. Adult situations and a little sex talk.
DVD
Look: The letterboxed presentation appears good. The overall look of the film is overcast rather than bright sunshine, and this is reflected in the transfer. The source print is quite clean.
Sound: Both Cantonese and Mandarin audio tracks are presented in stereo, which sounds adequate.
Subtitles: The large white and removable English subtitles are fine, well timed and easy to read. Also provided are traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles.
Features: Eight chapters can be selected from a video capture menu. Stars' files are provided for Anthony Wong and Sam Lee. The original theatrical is included.
RECOMMENDATION
Rent. Low-key, lighthearted trifle.
(Reviewed by Peter A. Martin; March 27, 2002)
Copyright 2000-2002 by Peter A. Martin. All rights reserved.
No part of this review may be reproduced without express permission by the copyright owner.