Review by: Andrew Chan FCCA AACTA FIPRESCI
Review Date: 27th January 2013

Directed by: Wong Jing
Starring: Chow Yun-fat, Nicholas Tse, Chapman To, Jing Tian, Annie Wu, Kimmy Tong, Phillip Ng

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Let’s rejoice as we witness yet another good film from the infamous Wong Jing. In fact, director Wong Jing is on a winning streak of making quality Hong Kong cinema that he should be proud of. His latest action and gambling comedy reunion of sorts with the “God of Gamblers” – Chow Yun Fat is a good one and with one gag after another, easily making “From Vegas to Macau”, one of Wong Jing’s funniest film in years. With lavish production values and an A-list cast, long time Hong Kong cinema fans will likely embrace this one with both arms out. This is why when Wong Jing tries, he can still manage a few tricks and while some jokes are rehash of his former glory, you will probably give it to him for this one. In fact, the film is making waves around the world and online, even articles on sites like boomtownbingo.com/hamilton-park-racecourse/ are mentioning the rebirth of a style in this film. This is definitely not one to miss and potentially best enjoyed with a little gambling trip planned with your friends.

Chow Yun Fat headlines this film and returns to a genre that created a gambling craze around Hong Kong people in the early 90’s. Chow is an excellent dramatic actor, but he is equally wonderful as a comedian. His comic timing is always funny and goes a long way in providing the film with the light-hearted feeling from start to finish. Despite looking more like “Detective Conan” with his blue suit and hairdo, Chow have not lost his screen presence and simply steals the screen time as his costars Nicholse Tse and Chapman To roam along with him. I thought that there could be more character depth for Tse as his coolness and seriousness tended to feel of out place at times. Still, alongside comedic relief role of Chapman To, the two play off each other in quietly entertaining fashion and To showing that despite his recent leading fame, he has not lost any of his comic timing in a smaller role.

As usual a Wong Jing’s film cannot be completed without his usual hunger of flower vase roles. Kimmy Tong continues to appear and this time as Chow’s daughter and Tse’s love interest, and despite being sexy, she definitely needing more acting lessons. Jing Tian appears in yet another big Hong Kong and Chinese co-production (after sharing screen-time with Donnie Yen in “Special ID” and Jackie Chan in “Police Story 2013”). I am still yet to discover her attraction and while she manages to hold her own with iconic Hong Kong superstars, her lack of chemistry with Yen, Chan and now Chow leaves a lot to be desired. Rising action stars Phillip Ng does okay in a small undercover role, while Zhang Jun from his “Grandmasters” fame continue to be impress with his menacing look and kung fu chop. While the much missed Annie Wu (Donnie Yen’s “Ballistic Kiss”) makes an appearance.

What I really enjoyed about the latest Wong Jing’s adventure is the pure senseless fun of it, the expected jokes, the simplicity of how an otherwise serious or complicated situation gets resolved via a funny gag or “laugh out laugh” humor. While, Wong Jing inserted himself into the dialogue a few times too much, but he finally managed to realise that by not appearing on screen even for a short moment, actually made the film better. All in all, “From Vegas to Macau” is what senseless and mindless fun is about and while we are unlikely to feel nostalgic, long time Hong Kong cinema undoubtedly miss the gambling action comedy genre. Adding Chow Tun Fat to the mix, plus a half decent script and an actually trying Wong Jing, this is as good as it gets. Is this “God of Gamblers”? No, but this is good enough for now. (Neo 2014)

I rated it 8/10

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