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Cast:
Chow
Yun Fat
Anita
Mui
Eric
Tsang
Shing
Fui On
Elizabeth
Lee
Nina
Li-Chi
Producer:
Siu
Yau Yuen
Director:
Clarence
Ford
Score:
 
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THE
GREATEST LOVER
AKA:
N/A
Year:
1988 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Locomotive
Fat, Skyscraper Eric and Chicken Noodles are three Mainland
friends who decide to illegally enter Hong Kong in search of
the better life. After receiving all of the necessary aid from
their close friends and family on the Mainland, the three
prepare for the arduous swim to their Promised Land. On
finally completing the journey, the three are inadvertently
separated and Locomotive Fat finds himself hiding under a
table at the engagement party of wealthy businessman Headman
See. The supposedly happy occasion that Fat is an unwanted
guest for soon turns sour as See's intended fiancé has only
arranged the event with her friend so that they can make a
mockery of See. During the ensuing chaos, Fat's hiding place
is revealed and this slovenly figure is left standing in front
of the high class crowds. See's initial anger at seeing this
intruder is turned into an intriguing plan of revenge against
the two women who publicly humiliated him. Taking Fat to the
etiquette and grooming expert Anita, See concocts a scheme to
take this bewildered outsider and make him into the new star
of high society, breaking the heart of See's enemies on the
way. Changing Fat proves to be a mammoth task and matters
aren't helped by the interference of the conniving Skyscraper
Eric. After endless frustrations though, the new Fat is ready
to explode onto the social scene and mete out See's unusual
revenge.
In
one of his many comic roles of the mid-80s, Chow Yun Fat stars
in what is essentially a reworking of 'Pygmalion' - albeit
with a few twists. This premise is a strong starting point for
what could have been a hilarious comedy of manners. However,
although the film is enjoyable and at times endearing, parts
prove to be better than the whole. Firstly on a positive note,
'The Greatest Lover' contains some amusing moments that keep
the overlong running time moving at a considerable pace. The
cast is everything one would expect from a big-budget Hong
Kong comedy with many familiar faces present in the film.
Director Clarence Fok imbues this comedy with a real visual
quality that is synonymous with his name and there is no doubt
that this adds a stylish element to the proceedings.
Importantly
though, 'The Greatest Lover' falls down in some key areas that
prevent it from being a more substantial comedy. In the lead
role, Chow Yun Fat puts in one of his most over-the-top
performances; therefore he swings wildly from completely
annoying to slightly charming throughout the production's
course. With Eric Tsang playing his usual loud and crass
'friend' it can sometimes be hard to care too much for the
supposed heroes. This is especially the case by the film's
finale when Chow leaves one prospective bride broken-hearted
at the altar to find his true love (though the names obviously
won't be revealed here). Within the 'The Greatest Lover' there
is also the typical stereotype of the Mainlanders being
backward and absurdly coarse. Not too long into the storyline,
this particular comedic device outstays its welcome even
though there's an attempt to wring out some melodrama from it
at the climax.
The
final word therefore is that 'The Greatest Lover' is certainly
worth catching, but there are simply too many annoyances for
this to be anything special.
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