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Starring
:
Stephen
Chow Sing Chi
Andy
Lau
Rosamund
Kwan
Chingamy
Yau
Ng
Man Tat
Waise
Lee
Shing
Fui On
Action
:
Benz
Kong
Writer
:
Wong
Jing
Producer
:
Jimmy
Heung
Director
:
Wong
Jing
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TRICKY
BRAINS (1991)
Reviewed
by Phil Mills
Chi
Man Kit (Lau) is a very serious and studious young man who is
a respected member of his business firm and considered by many
to be a front runner for promotion. That is until he
begins dating the bosses daughter who is also sought by the
rich and powerful Macky (Waise Lee). Rather than tarnish
his own good name though, Macky decides to disgrace Kit by
hiring the world famous King Of Tricks (Chow) to do his dirty
work. Now the question is, with the smart and wily King
Of Tricks unleashing his full arsenal against Kit, will Macky
get his way or will true love find a way to conquer all and
ride this tidal wave of tomfoolery?
This
early Chow Sing Chi/Wong Jing vehicle is something of a slow
starter thanks to a surprisingly stilted (and slightly
irritating) performance from Andy Lau that dominates the
film's opening. Thankfully for both the audience and the
rather sheepish looking Lau, it isn't too long before Chow enters
into the action bringing with him his unique brand of deadpan humour and
a multitude of successful slapstick routines and
in-jokes. Alongside him is the equally amusing Ng Man Tat
who proves that the
chemistry between the pair is often the key to a lot of their
films, so much so
that the laughter here eventually becomes infectious enough to
allow Lau to loosen up for
the final third. Of course this wouldn't be a Wong Jing
film if some of the jokes weren't bordering on tasteless and
there are the odd couple that stretch the imagination but
thankfully they do little to deviate from the film's overall
fun and frivolity.
Rating:
  
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