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Starring
:
Nick
Cheung
Samuel
Pang
Anthony
Wong
Ruby
Wong
Ken
Lo
Joe
Lee
Anya
Wu
Producer
:
Cheung
Man Gwong
Dante
Lam
Director
:
Dante
Lam
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RUNAWAY
(2001)
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
Small-time
thugs Dan (Cheung) and King (Pang) amble through their gang
life with little focus or ambition. This aimless existence is
changed when one of Dan's practical jokes backfires and the
two find themselves on the run from their triad boss and his
main rival. Choosing to enjoy their exile, the pair head
towards Phuket to enjoy the region's reputation as a place
where hedonism is the main attribute. As the days go by, Dan
finds himself drawn to a regular visitor to the area, Ching (R.Wong),
who is coincidentally one of their pursuers' mistress. When
the gang leader Ray travels to the area to meet his mistress,
the various parties are unsurprisingly forced together. Ray's
rage at Dan and King seems to subside after a short amount of
time in Phuket and he begins to form an unsteady trust with
Dan. With an increasing amount of bizarre characters entering
the mix, all of the participants begin to question their role
in the world and their relationship with the others.
Dante
Lam has struggled to match the critical triumph that was 'Jiang
Hu - The Triad Zone' and 'Runaway' once more disappoints. It's
admirable that Lam has never followed a predictable path as a
director; 'Hit
Team' proved that he wasn't just content on regurgitating
his past glory. However, the spark of invention seems to have
left the promising film-maker - hopefully only briefly.
'Runaway' is perhaps his most disappointing post-Jiang Hu film
as it does attempt to replicate the quirky style of Lam's
classic, but leaves out most of the elements which made it
work. Most blatantly is the frustrating storyline which
quickly loses any of the interest it once held. 'Jiang Hu.'
succeeded because it combined a strong narrative with good
characters and some jaw-dropping black comedy; 'Runaway' is
just content throwing in the bizarre moments with none of the
depth. The characters also create little inspiration with most
being a totally repulsive bunch of low-lives. This aspect of
the film is not helped by the grating persona of Nick Cheung
and, surprisingly, Ruby Wong - both soon constitute a major
turn-off. Some of the more eccentric moments do inspire a wry
smile, but nothing to fully salvage the end product.
'Runaway'
can consider itself fortunate to get three stars;
two-and-a-half is perhaps closer to the truth.
Rating:
 
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