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Cast:
Stephen
Chow Sing Chi
Gong
Li
Natalis
Chan
Gabriel
Wong
Cheng
Pei Pei
Gordon
Liu Chia Hui
Producer:
Stephen
Shiu
Director:
Lee
Lik Chi
Score:
 
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THE
FLIRTONG SCHOLAR
AKA:
The Flirting Scholar
Year:
1993 Reviewer: Phil
Mills
Tong
Pak Fu (Chow) is the leading scholar of the infamous
"Four Scholars" and excels at poetry, painting,
music and ... well, just about everything really.
Despite having eight wives he is still remains unhappy as they
persist in spending their time at the Mahjong tables.
Thankfully, his life changes for the better when he catches
sight of the beautiful Chow Heung (Gong Li) who has a smile
that makes him realise she is the one true girl for him.
Heung is a servant of a household that hates the work of Tong
Pak Fu so he must enter disguised as a servant. Trouble begins
when the "Four Perverted Heroes" decide to take Chow
Heung for themselves and an old enemy of Pak Fu's father is
hired to kill the family.
Although
at first glance this film may appear a little too "home-grown"
to appeal to international audiences, 'The Flirtong Scholar'
is in fact one of Chow's most easily accessible and highly
amusing comic adventures. It's true that it is based on
a classic Chinese tale and contains a lot of Chow's notorious
'fast speak' (which just does not translate well), but it is
littered with enough trademark slapstick routines, well
choreographed kung fu fights and easy-to-spot spoofs, that it
can appeal to anyone from any nationality. Trust me, if
you don't smile at least once then you must have had a humour
bypass at some stage in your life.
All
the performances from the cast are first rate, particularly
from Chow himself who plays a part not a million miles removed
from previous roles but he exudes such charm and energy that
he is always a joy to watch. There is also a notable
chemistry between the two leads, even considering the fact
that Li's character is not exactly as fleshed out as it could
be but this can be forgiven in a comedy such as this. Ng
Man Tat's regular understudy, Natalis Chan, once again steps
into the breach in his absence and is at times so amusing that
Man Tat will have to keep one eye over his shoulder if he
wants to maintain his sidekick spot.
A
love story, comedy and action film all rolled into one, 'The
Flirtong Scholar' is top entertainment for experienced H.K.
movie connoisseurs or newcomers alike.
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