Fractured Follies

Director: Wong Chung

Starring: Chow Yun Fat, Joey Wong, Nina Li Chi, James Wong, Wang Ching, Bonnie Law.

Plot: May (Joey Wong) who was born with one leg shorter than the other is run over by a clumsy uninsured taxi driver called Joe (Chow Yun Fat), Joe who thinks he is responsible for her limp, decides to make it up to her by helping out at her dad’s supermarket. Joe and his brother (Wang Ching) help the dad (James Wong) in the shop, slowly Joe and May fall for each other while Joe’s brother has his eye on Scarlet (Nina Li), who is a friend of the family.

Review: Fractured Follies is another Hong Kong effort to blend goofy screwball comedy and romance together. It works to some extent but sadly the connection between Joey Wong and Chow Yun Fat isn’t strong enough to pull the audience in. The comedy on the other hand is too broad and over the top, the canto comedy doesn’t live through the subtitles, which makes this an acquired taste for western viewers. James Wong’s character is so over the top he gets annoying, that goes for Nina Li as well, the director has allowed the actors to fall into a strong stereotypical role. Though the viewers should know what to expect after seeing the first name on screen; Produced By, Dean Shek.

Chow Yun Fat plays his role for laughs and he proves that his comic timing is spot on in a few scenes. Joey Wong carries the film poorly and doesn’t seem to have any interest in playing the role, the only time she looks like she’s having fun is in the song and dance scene. This was a huge disappointment because she is so good in films like A Chinese Ghost Story and Green Snake. Wang Ching was okay, his acting looked a bit shoddy alongside Chow’s, but I was impressed with his dramatic range. Nina Li is slightly annoying as the lustful friend, she acts a little bit too hyper. James Wong couldn’t do much with this role, it’s just a shame that he is unfunny and his character wears thin after about ten minutes.

In one scene Chow and Wang beat the hell out of a snake, I’m guessing that was a real snake, sorry animal rights activists but Hong Kong film makers live by different rules.

Other appearances include Bonnie Law as Chow’s sister, she has a few comedic moments but other than that she has little to do. Jeng Maang Ha plays Joey’s mother and Chan Laap Ban plays the old women in the temple, she also stars in films such as School On Fire and God Of Gamblers.

Fractured Follies is slightly above average, but that doesn’t mean you should be rushing to see it, I can recommend it to die hard Chow Yun Fat fans only. If Hong Kong comedy isn’t your thing then stay clear of this.

Rating: 5.1 out of 10.0