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Starring
:
Kent
Cheng
Cheung
Kwok Keung
Rosamund
Kwan
Billy
Lau
Chiao
Chiao
Ann
Bridgewater
Producer
:
Kent
Cheng
Chua
Lam
Director
:
Kent
Cheng
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MR.
SMART (1989)
A.K.A.
- Mister Smart
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
Sea-faring
know-it-all Smart (Cheng) returns to his family after years of
maritime employment only to find them living only partially
above the breadline in a small shack in the New Territories.
After leaving quite suddenly and upsetting his family, his
return is greeted by a frosty reception thanks to his equally
opinionated mother, though his sister is at least delighted to
have him back in the home. Smart also finds that, in order for
his mother and sister to survive, his room has been rented out
to a young teacher who shows little sign of leaving. After
initially throwing his considerable weight around, Smart
decides to poke his obstinate snout into the private lives of
those around him. Never is this more evident than when his
mother's home is condemned by the local council and she is
told to find alternative housing within a few months,
something which the rotund bombast turns into a personal
crusade. Smart conjures up the idea of turning the humble
dwelling into a roadside restaurant catering to the
impressionable schoolkids nearby and then putting the profits
into the building of a new house. While this task proves to be
monumental enough, he then decides to organise the love lives
of those around him, a course of action that brings him into
contact with a beautiful young nurse (Kwan).
It's
not particularly easy to pigeon-hole Mr. Smart. The jovial
front cover and even the quirky title imply that this will be
some raucous slapstick feature that will undoubtedly frustrate
more than it will charm. However, it gradually becomes obvious
that this low-key production has slightly different goals in
mind, namely to balance a subdued comic tone with a few
dramatic undertones. It may prove to be unremarkable
film-making, but it does unfold into a thoroughly watchable
character-driven piece - not exactly a commodity in 80s Hong
Kong comedy.
Though
the film still aims to be a comedy, the humour is far more
reliant on the quirks of Mr. Smart's bluster than the usual
farcical situations. This is achieved by steering the mostly
well-defined characters away from the over-the-top antics
often relied upon and anchoring them in some kind of reality.
While the driving force still seems to be the underplayed
humour that becomes the film's overriding feature, such
attention to the basics is commendable. There's even room in
the production for a few moments of gentle pathos which, while
not exactly heart-rending, do indicate Kent Cheng's loftier
ambitions. The bittersweet ending in particular proves that
Hong Kong films were adept at avoiding the saccharine-coated
endings that they are now sadly lapsing into.
Kent
Cheng - the director - achieves nothing spectacular here, but
at least turns a potentially aimless piece into a film where
the viewer actually cares about the characters. The eponymous
protagonist is a healthy mixture of the headstrong and the
endearing, happily trying to dictate to those around him while
his own life is directionless. It's testament to Cheng as
actor that Smart is likeable despite his many failings and
avoids being a mere hindrance. It is also pleasing to see
Billy Lau playing a normal character rather than the lecherous
cretins he is usually saddled with. Bridgewater and Kwan are
little more than pretty accessories to the production, though
the latter does appear in a few strong scenes with the leading
man.
'Mr.
Smart' is basically one of those Deltamac re-releases that
slips into the ether without many people noticing. Although it
may not be vintage 80s cinema, it is still a pleasant surprise
considering its anonymity. Kent Cheng shows that he was a fine
character actor and a capable enough director to make this
rise above its modest potential. While it may not find its way
to the top of your viewing list, there's certainly worse
investments.
Rating:
  
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