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Cast:
Chow
Yun Fat
Joey
Wong
Wong
Ching
Nina
Li Chi
Bonnie
Law
James
Wong
Producer:
Dean
Shek
Director:
Wong
Chung
Score:
 
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FRACTURED
FOLLIES
AKA:
N/A
Year:
1988 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Joe
(Chow Yun Fat) is someone who turns his hand to various kinds
of work and, alongside his loyal friend Sea (Wong Ching) flits
from one to another. While driving a lorry on day, Joe knocks
down a young woman on the street and, on seeing her unable to
walk properly afterwards, begs her to offer him the
opportunity to make up for the accident. What Joe doesn't know
is that the woman, May (Joey Wong), was born with an ailment
that means she has one leg slightly longer than the other and
walks with a limp that has nothing to do with the accident.
May, however, takes advantage of the situation and tells Joe
that he has to work at the supermarket she owns until she is
satisfied that he has paid his 'debt' off. Overcome with
guilt, Joe happily agrees and, along with Sea, works hard day
and night at the supermarket under May's direction. However,
the feelings of guilt begin to turn to ones of affection for
May and Joe finds himself slowly falling in love with her. The
feeling is mutual, but May is also aware that she must tell
him the truth about her lie and risk losing him forever.
It's
fair to say that if you don't consider yourself a fan of Chow
Yun Fat's early comic films, this will hardly convert you to
them; it is not the best of this selection or the most
consistent. Nonetheless, 'Fractured Follies' offers a
reasonable ninety minutes of entertainment which, while never
remarkable, isn't without some charm. Chow, with a far more
restrained performance than in the overlong 'The
Greatest Lover', is his usual professional self as the
leading man. What he does so well is to exude charm, but
remain a figure for the audience to empathise with. Once again
Chow is given a leading lady who brings out the best in him;
the ever watchable Joey Wong fits this position well and is a
reminder of those glorious days of 80s Hong Kong cinema.
Interestingly though, Chow's sidekick here is Shaw Brothers
bit-player Wong Ching - an unusual choice that succeeds
because of this very reason.
While
the cast (minus the over-the-top Nina Li Chi) are restrained,
it is director Wong Chung who allows matters to get out of
hand. Although he helps the storyline remain interesting
throughout, there are still elements of the direction that
have been seen too many times for comfort. Naturally an
audience cannot expect a truly original rom-com, but at least
a less-pedestrian execution would have helped matters.
'Fractured Follies' is not big on belly laughs and may not, as
was mentioned, be to everyone's' tastes. There is, though, a
certain something which helps the overall production remain
watchable.
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