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Cast:
Stephen
Chow Sing Chi
Leslie
Cheung
Maggie
Cheung
Raymond
Wong
Sandra
Ng
Teresa
Mo
Sheila
Chan
Kwan
Hoi San
Producer:
Clifton
Ko
Director:
Clifton
Ko
Score:
  
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ALL'S
WELL, ENDS WELL
AKA:
All's Well That Ends Well
Year:
1992 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Another
Chinese New Year film and another simple formula to apply:
all-star cast + over-the-top comedy = vast financial success.
'All's Well, Ends Well' encapsulated this concept and gave
Chow Sing Chi yet another monster hit.
Foon
(Chow) is a wildly popular disc jockey who commands a legion
of adoring female listeners and uses his airplay to woo yet
more. One particular caller, Miss Holliyok (Maggie Cheung)
manages to get Foon's attention due to her obvious beauty and
bizarre obsessions with different Hollywood films. Although he
tries to win her affections, the arrogant lethario's
superficial ways and flirtations fail to impress her. However,
a strange accident renders Foon temporarily insane and
leaves Holliyhok thinking about her true feelings for the man
who has surprisingly endeared himself to her. Meanwhile, his
brothers are also facing major decisions in their lives after
recent events; his older brother's wife has walked out after
years of poor treatment while his other brother finds himself
battling the overtly butch auntie who has come to visit. By
the end of the film's duration, each brother has not only
realised who their perfect partner really is, but also
discovered some important lessons about their own
inadequacies.
Clifton
Ko is an old-hand at these Chinese New Year ensemble comedies
and once again throws together the elements that had
previously hit such a chord with local audiences. The use of
the term 'throw together' isn't accidental though as the film
displays much of the chaotic discord that is often bemoaned by
critics of Hong Kong comedy. There's no doubt that some of the
Hollywood pastiches do hit the mark and raise the odd smile,
but these are spread too thinly to be sustained throughout the
full 90 minute duration. For those unfamiliar with some of the
typical conventions of this family comedy, 'All's Well. Ends
Well' may be a jarring experience; Clifton Ko doesn't make any
excuses for mixing extravagant humour with a heavy dollop of
sentimentality. However, it's hard to dislike a film comedy
that tries to have a positive message as is presented here, no
matter how convoluted it sometimes feels.
'All's
Well, Ends Well' is not a 'Chow Sing Chi Film' per se - its
impressive cast means that even a star of Chow's magnitude is
not allowed to dominate things for too long. It is this
attempt to give equal running time to everyone that highlights
another department where the film is found wanting i.e. its
lack of focus. There's still enjoyment to be had in this Hong
Kong comedy though as long as the potential viewer is willing
to forgive its various shortcomings.
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