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Cast:
Edison
Chen
Stephen
Fung
Sam
Lee
Paul
Rudd
Richard
Sun
Maggie
Q
Christy
Chung
Action:
Nicky
Li Chung-Chi
Producer:
Thomas
Chung
John
Chong
Solon
So
Benny
Chan
Director:
Benny
Chan
Score:
 
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GEN-Y
COPS
AKA:
Gen-X Cops 2 ||
Gen Y Cops 2
Year:
2000 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
The
law of film-making states that if a film is a big box-office
success, the immediate plan is to make a sequel to recapture
the financial benefits of the original. With Benny Chan's
'Gen-X Cops' being said box-office hit, the obvious line for
all involved was to follow up with this sequel 'Gen-Y Cops'.
Stephen Fung and Sam Lee return as the characters Match and
Alien, but Nicholas Tse is replaced by another young Canto-Pop
star turned actor, Edison Chen. Therefore, all is pretty much
in place for this flashy big-budget sequel.
After
years of preparation and co-operation with the F.B.I., a U.S.,
a scientific agency finally completes the eagerly-awaited RSI
defence robot - the ultimate in futuristic weapons. Shortly
after a successful testing, the robot suffers a strange
relapse and destroys a large portion of the laboratory - this
is soon traced back to the robot's young designer Kurt who is
unimpressed by the way he has been cut out of the project's
funding. This 'minor' glitch is ignored and the RSI robot is
sent to Hong Kong to take part in an exhibition highlighting
high-tech weaponry from around the world. In joint charge of
the security of the exhibition is the F.B.I. and the Hong Kong
police, foremost among them being Match and Alien alongside
their new partner Edison. The unsteady relationship between
these two forces is soon shattered when Kurt uses his old
friend Edison to steal the RSI robot and frame him for the
crime. With the trigger-happy F.B.I. agents hunting Edison
down, the young cop resolves to clear his name by finding Kurt
and bringing him to justice before he can close a highly
lucrative deal with an Arab buyer. The race is on for the trio
of Gen-Y Cops to find their foe before the authorities land
the blame upon them.
As
with the original, 'Gen-Y Cops' proved a notable box-office
success and there may not be too long before Hong Kong
cinemagoers are treated to 'Gen-Z Cops'. Watching 'Gen-Y
Cops', this might not be a bad thing; taken on face value,
this is a supremely entertaining popcorn movie. Some have
pointed a disparaging finger at the film, but perhaps the
value of the film has been missed with this harsh critique.
This is a live-action comic book in its purest form with
vibrancy and sheer exuberance spilling out of every frame.
Those looking for something meaningful or thoughtful would be
better with a Fellini classic, but those wanting a cinematic
adrenalin rush will not find many better vehicles to achieve
this. Sam Lee and Stephen Fung shine in their comic double act
roles and insure that even when the exciting action has
let-up, the film is never dull. Lee has become known as an
eccentric screen persona who is always giving value for money
on the screen, but Stephen Fung is also beginning to shape an
absorbing persona - the happy-go-lucky hero. It's hoped that
future roles will give Fung the continued opportunity to
capitalise on this.
If
there is one weakness that stands out it is the focus on
Edison Chen and his characters personal battle against Kurt
(Sun). Between two more commanding performers this may have
worked with more panache, but here the pace flags slightly
when they are the centre of attention. Chen's performance is,
however, not as bad as some have claimed and there is not a
great difference between his and Nicholas Tse's 'Gen-X Cops'
showing. If Chen does need to observe a performer to help his
own acting career, he could do far worse than look to Paul
Rudd who makes the little material he's given really come to
life here. The interplay between Rudd, Fung and Lee is another
of the film's bonuses.
For
all the plot holes and script deficiencies, this is an
excellent slice of Hong Kong entertainment with a return to
the edict of fun film-making that made the 80's stand out.
Don't expect high-art and you'll be in for a thrilling ride.
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