Da lao ai mei li (2004)

Georgie is handsome, stylish, and charming, but he's gay, and his old-fashioned father is the leader of one of Hong Kong's powerful Triads. Should Georgie's lifestyle get out, his father's ... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Fung

Writers:

Stephen Fung (screenplay), Yiu Fai Lo

Stars:

Eason Chan, Daniel Wu, Karen Mok

Cast

Credited cast:
Eason Chan	...	Sam
Daniel Wu	...	Georgie Hung
Karen Mok	...	Julie
Chapman To	...	Kin
Kar-Ying Law	...	Father Eight
Stephen Fung	...	Cheng Chow
Biao Yuen	...	Georgie Hung's father
Jackie Chan	...	Client of Julie (Cameo)
Brian Lee	...	David
Hiro Hayama	...	Chow's Henchman
Nicholas Tse	...	Cock Head
Sam Lee	...	Gay Man
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hin-Wai Au	...	Lui Fai's thug
Michael Wai-Man Chan	...	Lui (as Wai-Man Chan)
Sammi Cheng	...	Head Waitress (Cameo)

Storyline

Georgie is handsome, stylish, and charming, but he's gay, and his old-fashioned father is the leader of one of Hong Kong's powerful Triads. Should Georgie's lifestyle get out, his father's position would be in jeopardy. So he sends Georgie away until after his death. But things don't go as planned.

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Plot Keywords:

chop socky | beating | foot chase | kung fu | karate | 

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Genres:

Action | Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site [Hong Kong]

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Release Date:

8 April 2004 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Enter the Phoenix

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company Credits

Production Co:

Homfaith,JCE Movies

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

A guilty pleasure, and a fine one it is

It's not a simple task, giving this movie a review. Especially, I should add, because I've seen it right after seeing the movie "Bishonen", whose two stars are featured here as well, one even directs the movie.

Keeping this in mind, you may not be as surprised to hear that I was greatly thankful for the movie. Whereas "Bishonen" broke my heart, this movie revived it, and it was no easy task.

The plot starts with a face-off of the Triad's highest ranking members, which results in an accidental killing. Following this, said members swear not to harm one another any longer. However, a little boy is left an orphan, and he will seek to avenge his father later on.

25 years later and the "Big Brother" is dying. He asks his second in command to bring back his son and make sure he takes over the crime organization. The son, however, is gay and not interested in the job. His straight roommate is. So the switching of roles begins.

It's a light-hearted comedy which sets out to make fun of the usual clichés and does so extremely well. I think the moments dealing with the clichés are some of the best in the movie. At the same time, it also oozes with coolness during some scenes (the swearing of the new "Big Brother", the final action sequence at the end of the movie).

Not all is perfect with this movie. Some jokes are a bit crude, some comic scenes are somewhat over-acted (the fake son crying at his father's funeral, for example) and the plot doesn't always make all that much sense. Still, it made me laugh out loud at times, it was also had touching moments that ran deep in a way a lot of serious dramas don't manage to, Daniel Wu's character - the real son of "Big Brother" - is interesting and wonderful, not to mention stereotype-breaking as a gay man you *would* want to head a Triad.

Personally, I'd love to see a sequel, and that in itself says a lot. I even have the basic plot figured out, so I have no doubt it can (and should) be done.