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Cast:
Ricky
Hui
Richard
Ng
Cheung
Ying
Helen
Law
Angie
Chiu
Lee
Hoi San
Action:
Fong
Hak On
Producer:
Raymond
Chow
Director:
John
Woo
Score:
 
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MONEY
CRAZY
AKA:
The Pilferer's Progress
Year:
1977 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Despite
the bewilderment expressed in my reviews for 'Plain
Jane To The Rescue' and 'From
Riches To Rags', I once again find myself taking a look at
another of John Woo's early curios. 'Money Crazy' is very
similar in tone and style to Woo's other pre-'A
Better Tomorrow' comedies, but this time the usual star,
Ricky Hui, is teamed with popular comedy actor Richard Ng.
Poison
(Hui) is a keen gold-digger who will do anything for a quick
buck, an aspect of his personality that creates obvious
conflicts. After using some trickery to endear himself to
local tycoon Rich Chen, Poison is hired as a bodyguard and
asked to transport some valuable gems across Hong Kong. On the
way to his destination, Poison is robbed by a young woman and
Tough Guy (Ng), a man very similar to the bodyguard himself.
The gems prove to be fake though and Poison and Tough Guy
agree to help the woman rob Rich Chen when they hear that the
real diamonds are actually her elderly father's. In their bid
to pull off the scam, both men are keen to help their new
friends out while also pocketing some of the benefits
themselves. However, slipping into Rich Chen's fortress-like
mansion is certainly not going to be easy.
John
Woo's comedies remain enigmatic to the modern viewer though
'Money Crazy' proves to be one of his most consistent efforts.
Taking some obvious cues from the 70s hits of Michael Hui,
'Money Crazy' is an episodic musing on the money-hungry
attitude of a few ordinary men. While Hui's work tends to
weave in a satirical edge, Woo concentrates on a more
slapstick approach that, at times, loses its direction. Woo's
handling of the material lacks the exquisite touches that made
Hui's classics milestones in Hong Kong and his control over
the proceedings - as seen in his other comedies - is found
wanting. For these reasons, 'Money Crazy' is very much a poor
man's 'Private
Eyes' or 'Games
Gamblers' Play'.
Though
it's not in the same league as the Michael Hui hits it tries
to emulate, 'Money Crazy' is still reasonably entertaining and
certainly better than Woo's other ventures into the genre.
Naturally much of the film's focus is on the sublime Ricky Hui,
an actor who is never given due recognition for his
exceptional comic timing. Hui's crumpled face and nervy
expressions convey more emotions than the histrionics of
hundreds of lesser performers. Richard Ng is a superior foil
for Ricky Hui and, as was seen with his later 'Lucky Stars'
films, he brings a presence to the production that is all his
own. With two such actors cast, 'Money Crazy' is a production
that is not devoid of the odd moment of humour and presents a
generally entertaining atmosphere throughout its running time.
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