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Starring
:
Ekin
Cheng
Cecilia
Cheung
Jonathan
Ke Quan
Annamaria
Ambera
Action
:
Johnny
Gary
Producer
:
Johnnie
To
Director
:
Jeff
Lau
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SECOND
TIME AROUND (2001)
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
Time-travel
and the numerous fictional possibilities it raises has long
been a useful narrative device for writers and film-makers.
The difficulty that it always has to conquer is the inherent
trap of creating an obvious paradox, something which some
viewers are more than happy to point out. Even the very best
of these films cannot stop this inevitable mistake and so it
is natural that the 'Second Time Around' still succumbs to
this. This, however, proves to be the least of the reasons as
to why this fails to to fulfil its intentions.
Gambling
addict and general deadbeat Ren persuades his loyal friend
Sing to accompany him to Las Vegas with a considerable stash
of dirty money. After a brief period of success and
significant winnings, Ren manages to lose everything in a
final bet with the house and goes away to drown his sorrows
with the disgruntled Sing. When the pair accept a lift back to
L.A. from a businesswoman who has befriended them, matters
turn to a far more extraordinary series of events. Firstly, a
car crash claims the life of all but Ren and the gambler is
left in a coma at the local hospital. More unusual though is
the sudden realisation that, due to a gift given to him, he
manages to leap back in time, creating a parallel reality. Now
teaming with a law enforcement officer, the bewildered
time-traveller goes back to Las Vegas and discover how his
friend was killed. However, with a split in reality and two
versions of him roaming around, Ren finds out some surprising
answers.
The
first thing to state about 'Second Time Around' is that it is
admirable to see a Hong Kong production moving into virtually
unchartered territory. Science fiction films rarely make much
of a mark in the local industry and so Jeff Lau should be
commended for his attempt to tackle a thorny genre.
Importantly, it is these elements that are by far the most
entertaining of the film, though they are sadly not in the
minority. Too much of 'Second Time Around' concentrates on the
undeveloped romance between the lead stars and the tired
gambling routines. Neither of these two plot threads are that
interesting and neither is enjoyable as the time-travel story.
What doesn't help is the fact that Ren is not an especially
sympathetic hero; his dead-beat style and willingness to
gamble everything makes him a very uninvolving character. When
the focus is on the more interesting science fiction
narrative, director Lau succeeds in throwing in some
surprising touches; the observant viewer will be rewarded by a
few particularly fine time twists. Otherwise this is a
standard big budget Hong Kong film that promises thrills, but
rarely delivers them.
Rating:
 
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