My Lucky Stars
Director: Sammo Hung
Year: 1985
Rating: 7.0
The boys are back
in this follow up to Winners and Sinners and it is directed again by Sammo
Hung. What is a bit peculiar though is that it seems that they are playing
different characters. In most ways the characters have very similar traits
to those in Winners and Sinners, but they have different names here and their
background is quite dissimilar to the previous film. Certainly Stanley Fung
is a different character and Eric Tsang steps in for John Sham.
Otherwise though the film is very similar in tone and style to the first
one. The focus is on the comedy again with some terrific action sequences
throughout. Though the action is equal if not better than the first film,
the comedy feels much weaker. The comedy again often centers on the boys trying
to get fresh with women, but it feels very uninspired and immature.
Thankfully the film starts off with some action that holds the attention
of the viewer for a while. Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao are following a HK crook
(Lam Ching-Ying) on the Tokyo subways but when they are spotted a chase is
on through the streets of the city. The chase ends up at an amusement park
where Jackie and Yuen battle a group of ninjas. There are a number of great
bits here – in particular I loved a backward flip that Yuen performs. In the
end though Yuen is knocked out and kidnapped by the ninjas. Jackie needs some
assistance from HK, but doesn’t want any cops sent over. So they turn to
Sammo and company.
Needless to say the boys are not thrilled to help out, but they are put
in a position where they are have to. The fact that Sibelle Hu is on the
assignment with them makes it a little less painful. Here though is where
the film bogs down as the boys spend an excruciating amount of time trying
to sneak a feel with Sibelle. It’s just not very funny and goes on way too
long.
Eventually they turn back to the action and the last thirty minutes of the
film is great fun. First Sammo and Jackie team up to take on a roomful of
Ninjas and then later they all come together for the final confrontation.
Before getting there though Jackie has one
of his more interesting action scenes as he finds himself in the Horror House
at the amusement park where he must overcome trap doors, illusions and deadly
hidden Ninjas. It is a wonderful surrealistic sequence and it feels as if
Orson Welles had stepped in to film this section.
The final fight is very good with an excellent one on one between Jackie
and Dick Wei and then the classic confrontation between Sibelle and Michiko
Nishawaki. Michiko going from kimono to leotards is a picture perfect
moment. This was Michiko’s HK film debut after having been the female body
building champion of Japan for a few years and though it is short it is memorable.
This is a difficult film to judge overall – certainly worth watching for
the action, but getting through the so-called comedic bits felt like more
of a chore than cleaning your clothes at the laundromat.