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Cast:
Chow
Yun Fat
Sylvia
Chang
Nina
Li Chi
Lawrence
Cheng
Producer:
Catherine
Hun
Director:
Johnnie
To
Score:
 
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THE
FUN, THE LUCK AND THE TYCOON
AKA:
The Fun, The Luck And The Tychoon
Year:
1990 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
In
what is essentially a reworking of Eddie Murphy's popular
comedy 'Coming To America', Chow Yun Fat takes the role of a
wealthy socialite who becomes increasingly bored of the life
he leads. Surrounded by sycophantic associates and with every
decision in his life already made for him, he decides to go
out into the working world and lead a more normal life. Soon
after leaving his cloistered world he manages to find work at
a local restaurant and happily takes on the most mundane
tasks. Happy with his relatively stress free environment, Chow
meets and slowly falls in love with the daughter of the
restaurant owner and manages to use his subtle charms on her.
Her father, however, has other ideas and continues to try to
marry her off to a rich suitor, even though she is firmly
against the idea. Chow also faces the prospect of marriage to
a far from ideal partner and realises his former world is
beginning to close in on his new environment. The time thus
comes to reveal his true identity to his new workmates and try
to win the heart of the the woman he loves.
Chinese
New Year comedies tend to follow a very well defined pattern
i.e. star-studded, glossy and little substance. Although 'The
Fun, The Luck And The Tycoon' is certainly full of stars
(including pop group 'Beyond') it thankfully offers more
entertainment than many other films that have succeeded during
the holiday periods. Following the plotline that was tried and
tested even before 'Coming To America', director Johnnie To
manages to create a fun comedy that is more cohesive than
perhaps could have been expected. Chow Yun Fat gives a
performance more akin to 'Diary
Of A Big Man' than the hopelessly over-the-top 'Eighth
Happiness' or 'The
Greatest Lover' and this is again a definite plus point.
Chow is joined by the always professional Sylvia Chang who
handles the romantic role very well, while the farcical antics
are left up to Nina Li-Chi and Lawrence Cheng. 'The Fun, The
Luck And The Tycoon' is not hilarious or particularly
side-splitting, but the humour is such that it hits the mark
in a subtle manner. Therefore this is an agreeable Chow Yun
Fat comedy that is mostly successful in its modest ambitions.
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