Expect the Unexpected
Reviewed by YTSL
The first time I checked out this 1998 Milkyway
Image production, I found it to be an acceptable but not all that majorly
impressive piece of work. Having had the good fortune to re-view this
Johnnie To-produced and Patrick Yau-directed film on a big screen a week ago,
here’s reporting there being a positive change in the way I think and feel
about it. Although this was not totally unexpected, given my generally
favorable reactions to movies with which this effort’s principal actors (E.g.,
Lau Ching Wan, Simon Yam, Ruby Wong) as well as auteur Johnnie To have been
involved, it still was somewhat revelatory to realize that that whose title
announces its intent and capacity to shock can provide one with a moving viewing
experience even after one knows what surprises are in store for its audience.
Indeed, I’d go as far as to suggest that this film -- and its dark yet arguably
affirmative “seize the moment” message -- might be best appreciated after
one has had time to reflect on, not just be emotionally and visually assailed
by, the incidents that emphasize that one really ought to EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
(in life as well as this offering). This is not to say that it is a
work that does not reveal any charms (which is by no means restricted to
that supplied by the luminescent Yoyo Mung’s presence in the picture) when
one first encounters it. Rather, my strong sense is that this very
well-acted ensemble piece -- which memorably depicts the regular lives and
often trivial preoccupations of a tight special police unit (whose members
include those portrayed by Simon Yam, Lau Ching Wan, Ruby Wong, Hui Siu-hung
and Raymond Wong) as well as their crime-fighting efforts against two gangs
of criminals -- is more meaningful layers and has greater depth than your
average crime drama.
Somewhat relatedly, one of the bigger surprises for some viewers of EXPECT
THE UNEXPECTED might well be how talk filled it is: I.e., not only
is the audience made privy to such as the interrogation of a captured bumbler
of an attempted bank robber (who is simultaneously amusingly and touchingly
played by Lam Suet) but they are also treated to quite a few relational ruminations
by pretty much all of the crimebusters. In fact, at least two of the
movie’s major subplots involve the attempted figuring out by colleagues of
who are the real objects of affection of particular individuals. Additionally,
even the previously-mentioned cross-examination inside of a police station
ends up with the criminal talking lovingly about his family, who remain in
a particularly poverty-stricken part of Mainland China while he ventured
far afield to try to come by money to adequately feed them.
Still, it is not as if EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED lacks rather intense and real-looking
gun battles, car chases and other action sequences. Neither is it without
some wonderful moments in which actions are shown to definitely speak louder
than words (I think particularly of the scenes in which: Ruby Wong
puts grapes into Raymond Wong’s mouth at varying speeds; and Lau Ching Wan
and Simon Yam take turns to try to batter down the door of an individual
who their characters obviously care quite a bit for). Also, although
some might find them overly sappy, I will admit to liking those sections
of the film which bathe Yoyo Mung with a warm glow and herald her presence
with the onslaught of synthesized musical vibes (before sometimes segueing
into conversation and interaction but other times not even that).
All in all then, my revised verdict is this is one technically proficient
and materially interesting work that is largely appealing and more thought-provoking
-- and, because it succeeds in making you care about its main characters,
ultimately gut-wrenching -- than it might initially seem. It must be
emphasized though that EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED not only improves upon a second
viewing but also really benefits from having easy-to-read subtitles (something
which its VHS and VCD versions apparently lack). As such, it might
have to be one of those movies which one ought to only -- unfortunately,
if you don’t have the opportunity to do either -- view on DVD or a big screen.
My rating for the film: 8.
