San kei hap lui

Time was the studios of Hong Kong turned out three wildly entertaining movies most weeks. Since the mainland took over, your are lucky to get a couple a year and this one, despite heavy promotion, is not one of them.

A super hero comedy, the film rips off KUNG FU HUSTLE and The INCREDIBLES. Masked & cloaked Gezar Man Koo and Aroma Woman Ng have given up on their secret identities to settle in a small village, with domestic complications in her doing all the work and the non arrival of a baby. Their past catches up with them, when an Imperial secret martial arts tournament arrives there.

Intriguingly, comedienne Ng is still about, where those striking beauties of the great days of Kong Kong film have dropped out. Her strident character irritates at this length but she and the costumes are the best elements in the film. In sub-titles, the comedy is leaden and the effects work falls behind the every day excellence we are used to now.