The New King of Comedy (2019)

A young woman who is dreaming and striving to pursue the actors' dream despite being an extra and stand-in.

Director:

Stephen Chow

Writer:

Stephen Chow

Stars:

Jingwen E., Baoqiang Wang, Quandan Zhang

Cast

Credited cast:
Jingwen E.	...	Rumeng (as Jingwen E)
Baoqiang Wang	...	Ma Ke
Quandan Zhang	...	Charlie
Ruyang Jing	...	Xiaomi
Qi Zhang	...	Rumeng's father
Xingzhe Yuan	...	Rumeng's mother
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pierre Bourdaud	...	Chinese Thug / Dwarf
Zherui Cai	...	Director
Xiaopeng Huang	...	Li Yang
Yilun Miao
Kyle Shapiro	...	Chinese Thug / Dwarf
Kai Man Tin
David Torok	...	Chinese Thug / Dwarf

Storyline

A young woman who is dreaming and striving to pursue the actors' dream despite being an extra and stand-in.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

China

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

5 February 2019 (China)

Also Known As:

Tân Vua Hài Kich

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When this project was first revealed by media in 2018, Herman Yau was said working as the director of this film. But in all the later promotion materials, including posters and trailers, only credited it's a Stephen Chow's film. When the film finally released, we found that in the end credits, both Stephen Chow and Herman Yau were credited as directors of this film.

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Connections

References Moxina (2012)

User Reviews

Not everyone has the sensibility to appreciate this film

You have to like Steven Chau as a writer, a sharp social critic, before you're qualified to evaluate his work. It's like being totally in tune with a particular person on aspects of life, views, taste, interaction, to be critical of him/her as a person. I'm a diehard fan of Steven Chau from day one and everything he does (and I believe he puts his heart and soul in every project he's made) I appreciate. I of course is a Cantonese person, and grew up in the same social environment as he, despite our age difference.

This film was at first not intended to be made, much less shown. I heard (no proof here) Steven had a contract with a conglomerate to produce 5 blockbusters in 5 years but by the last Chinese New Year season his current film for this season wasn't ready so instead he produced this film just in time as a substitute. At first I thought such a hurriedly made film must be cheaply made, and shoddy in many areas that required careful handling, but on seeing it, the contrary was found to be true.

In this film, Steven's dialogues, characterisations, plot turns are all meticulously written. Outstanding characterisation are the main character's father, her betraying boy friend, the exaggerated parody on film actors and directors. The story contains many heart rending turns in personal failures, loss, betrayal of trust and love, hopelessness which are typically imbedded in all of Steven Chau's drama, to be given balm at some point in the film with moral victory, love reciprocated, the good's final prevalence.

The film didn't do particularly well in the box office, perhaps because today's viewers didn't appreciate these fine classical qualities for they had expected more slapstick laughs and the like from Chau. But to write a piece that impelled its audience not just to laugh (for the many silliness in the film) but to tear in earnest in compassion for the characters and events is a sure sign of Steven Chau's greatness.