LUCKY ENCOUNTER is a lightweight comedy from Johnnie To, which being made in Hong Kong features all of the usual stuff you'd never see in a similar Hollywood film, including on-screen child murder (in a family film!). The derivative storyline mixes together bits of CASPER, GHOSTBUSTERS and, most noticeably, HOME ALONE, but the end result is quirky enough to work. Tony Leung and Kent Cheng made a good buddy-buddy duo as a pair of small-time thieves who take on a job and soon find themselves mixed up with murderous villain Anthony Wong and eccentric inventor John Sham, as well as a cute ghost kid. It's generally a situation comedy for most of the running time, lifted by typically earnest performances, before going all crazy POLTERGEIST-style during the wonderful climax. Wong plays one of his sleaziest characters outside of a Category III movie, which makes the closing gag is a real hoot.
2 Reviews
A light-hearted, kiddy ghost story.
OllieSuave-00721 May 2015
Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Kent Cheng stars as two inventors who encounter the ghost of a benevolent little boy, who was murdered by his power-hungry uncle Cheap Chan (Anthony Wong). Therefore, the inventors vow to help the little ghost avenge his death.
This is not one of those conventional ghost comedies from Hong Kong, as it stars a little kid in the title role. It's mostly lightheartedness with whimsical elements such as the roles of the toy inventors to the character of the Professor (John Sham), who uses computer equipment and laser-like gadgets to detect and deflect ghosts. It's kind of like Casper the Friendly Ghost mixed in with Back to the Future and Ghostbusters, but with a modern-day setting with a little bit of romance tucked in.
The avenge plot is pretty exciting, along with the the "humans and ghosts cannot co-exist in the same room" warning. There is also some laugh-out-loud comedy courtesy of one of the lead actresses, Kingdom Yuen, and Kent Cheng - the two together make a hilarious pair. Lots of overboard sappy and puppy love moments, unfortunately, mostly involving Tony Leung and actress Sonny Song (who couldn't really act to save her life). And, the main villain Cheap Chan is as cringe-worthy as running your nails on a chalkboard. But, all in all, it's not a bad Chinese ghost story. It's kind of innovative, exciting, kid-innocent and humorous all at the same time.
Grade B-
This is not one of those conventional ghost comedies from Hong Kong, as it stars a little kid in the title role. It's mostly lightheartedness with whimsical elements such as the roles of the toy inventors to the character of the Professor (John Sham), who uses computer equipment and laser-like gadgets to detect and deflect ghosts. It's kind of like Casper the Friendly Ghost mixed in with Back to the Future and Ghostbusters, but with a modern-day setting with a little bit of romance tucked in.
The avenge plot is pretty exciting, along with the the "humans and ghosts cannot co-exist in the same room" warning. There is also some laugh-out-loud comedy courtesy of one of the lead actresses, Kingdom Yuen, and Kent Cheng - the two together make a hilarious pair. Lots of overboard sappy and puppy love moments, unfortunately, mostly involving Tony Leung and actress Sonny Song (who couldn't really act to save her life). And, the main villain Cheap Chan is as cringe-worthy as running your nails on a chalkboard. But, all in all, it's not a bad Chinese ghost story. It's kind of innovative, exciting, kid-innocent and humorous all at the same time.
Grade B-
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