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Starring
:
Chow
Yun Fat
Do
Do Cheng
Anthony
Wong
Teresa
Mo
Carina
Lau
Chan
Fai Hung
David
Wu
Producer
:
Terrance
Cheung
Linda
Kuk
Director
:
Alex
Law
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NOW
YOU SEE LOVE... NOW YOU DON'T (1992)
A.K.A.
- Love Now You See It, Now You Don't
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
Ng
(Chow Yun Fat) is the proud head of a Chinese village that is
happily stuck in the past, relatively untouched by Hong Kong's
opulence. However, when Ng's fiancé, Firefly (Cheng), returns
from a lengthy stay in London and is clearly changed by her
brush with the West, the village is forced to confront the
'stranger'. Ng is disgusted by the sudden changes in the woman
he loved and finds her westernised manner very difficult to
accept, eventually meaning that he calls off their
relationship. As the days and weeks pass, Ng decides to
re-educate himself and venture into the big city; he learns English,
starts a business with his loyal friend (Wong) and begins to
court a young woman he meets during his day-to-day activities.
However, despite the changes in his life, Ng continues to bump
into Firefly and re-ignites a very precarious friendship with
her. It is when his new girlfriend decides to go to Ng's
village and invite Firefly that the real feelings of each of
them reveal themselves.
Although
it initially has the air of one of his late-80s comedies, Chow
Yun Fat's 'Now You See Love... Now You Don't' was made shortly
before 'Hard Boiled' and proved to be one of Chow's last local
films (at the time of writing). With a slightly too laid-back
beginning and the usual dig at the fashions and attitudes of
the country folk, Alex Law's romantic comedy seems to be
heading down a dead-end after a mere twenty minutes; the
prospect of another hour or so of the somewhat dated comedy
doesn't look to be a very encouraging thought. However, the
proceeding eighty minutes display a remarkable upturn in
quality and general entertainment value, with the main
storyline finally slotting nicely into place. Indeed, by the
final thirty minutes, 'Now You See Love... Now You Don't' not
only begins to amuse, but it also lets it's stars use their
natural charm.
With
Chow Yun Fat reaching a point of supreme confidence in front
of the camera during this era, it is no surprise that his
performance here is measured and full of the charisma that has
come to be expected of him. Perhaps more surprising is the
fact that Do Do Cheng takes the acting honours in this
particular production, easily stealing many of the scenes she
shares with her accomplished leading man. Cheng has always
been adept at the comic, but 'Now You See Love... Now You
Don't' also gives her the opportunity to engage in a more
romantic narrative. The resulting interaction between these
stars makes Alex Law's work seem more sophisticated than it at
first seems and allows the pressure to be lifted from the
impressive supporting cast. One particular appearance in the
film is worthy of a special mention: Paul Fonoroff - the
esteemed (and sometimes puzzling) Hong Kong film critic - is
given a small cameo that is perhaps more notable for Do Do
Cheng's impressive cockney accent than his thespian skills.
Moments like these mean that 'Now You See Love... Now You
Don't' is engrossing and eventually quite touching; viewers
who sit through the uncomfortable opening will be rewarded
with these main qualities.
Rating:
  
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