User reviews

Winners and Sinners (aka Five Lucky Stars) is a film that I liked better the second time I watched it. After shaken off all expectations of a "Jackie and Sammo" film and accepted the uneven and scattered nature of this ensemble movie I enjoyed it more. This movie was more important though when it came out then it is considered today. Jackie had a recent flop in Dragon Lord, though I did enjoy the movie, and Golden Harvest had been in a bit of a slump. Producer Leonard Ho got the idea from Cannonball Run (which Jackie Chan and Michael Hui had parts in) to create an assemblage of popular Hong Kong stars to star in this film. Winners and Sinners was a success spawning several sequels and reunited Jackie with Seven Little Fortune alums Sammo and Yuen Biao (who helped with martial art choreography; though his cameo as a fellow CID officer is less than a minute as a quick fight versus Jackie.)

The Five Lucky Stars are cons who after spending their time in jail take a straight job with a cleaning company led by Curly aka Jack So (played by real life democracy advocate John Shum) who was framed for instigating a crowd to do harm in a parody of his real-life exhorts. The other four are Ranks aka Larry (Stanley Fung), Teapot (Sammo Hung who also directed this) as a cat burglar, Vaseline (Charlie Chin) a slick thief, and Exhaust Pipe (Richard Ng who performance was nominated as Best Actor for the Hong Kong Film Awards) who is bad at thieving automobile parts. They all live with Jack's sister known as Sis (Cherie Chung.) Unfortunately they spend way too much time trying to get her attention, leaving a lull in the early parts of the film. However there are some great gags such as Richard Ng thinking he is invisible with Wu Ma's great response to shatter his misconception – "...pretty good vision even when it comes to small objects" and a blind couple playing a Rod Stewart song at a carnival.

There are some great stunt and fight scenes led by 7086 (Jackie Chan) a bumbling CID officer who beats up wrong suspects, kills his superior's turtle and accidentally throws a kid's ice cream away. When he is not destroying everything in his path he is part of an awesome stunt scene involving skates (at least he learned something good from The Big Brawl though he is doubled on some of the trickier roller tricks) and part of a good fight scene in a cafeteria with a little person with horrific teeth. The "ouch factor" is quite high in one scene where a villain gets kicked out of a window and lands on a concrete ledge than falls to the ground. I have the highest respect for these stuntmen who kill themselves for our enjoyment. This film definitely deserved the Hong Kong award for best Action Choreography.

The story is mostly non-existent until the boilerplate briefcase full of counterfeit bills makes it's appearance. It belongs to Chan Chiu (James Tien always good as a cigar chomping villain) who is head of a triad gang. He was going to trade it to another triad gang led by Ho Man but it got intercepted and eventually and unknowingly in the possession of the Five Lucky Stars Cleaning Company. Of course, Agent 7086 wants this briefcase too.

But this film was not made for the plot. It was made to be a crowd pleasing mixture of comedy and action, both of which it does very well. It parodies the more serious films with scenes such as Charlie Chin and Fung Hark On doing a martial art pose-down fight and the final action scene that blends comedy and stunts takes place in a warehouse which gets me thinking on how many films I have seen that have the last fight scene in a warehouse (rhetorical thought of course). There are some problems with the film besides the inert beginning including he abysmal electronic soundtrack that is eerily reminiscent of Heart of Dragon's soundtrack and the misuse of Lam Ching Ying as Chan's butler Chan. Overall this is an enjoyable film that is fun to watch that showcases several outstanding Hong Kong comedians and several outstanding action performers.

I recently watched 'Winners and Sinners' with some friends when we thought we should celebrate Jackie Chan's birthday. After viewing it, maybe we could have a chosen a movie that featured more Jackie Chan in it. Oh well, maybe I'll celebrate Sammo Hung's next birthday (whenever it may be) by watching 'Around the World in 80 Days'.

'Winners and Sinners' is the first 'Lucky Stars' movie. Now 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars' makes a whole lot more sense, even though its been a few years since I've seen it. Five inmates befriend each other in prison, and when they are released, they form the 'Five Star Cleaning Service', only to find themselves in the middle of a Triad war.

'Winners and Sinners' is much more of a Sammo Hung film than a Jackie Chan film. Sammo directed and starred in this, while Jackie had a minor role as CID officer. Yuen Biao and Moon Lee even had a short cameo in a scene where Biao and Chan have a short fight. However, most of action is performed by Hung, and he pulls it off very well.

Apart from some entertaining action, 'Winners and Sinners' is one of those rather silly Hong Kong comedies that fans of Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan - especially their 80s work - should be somewhat familiar with. Some people will find it funny - I did, but others might not be amused.

'Winners and Sinners' is a nicely-done action / comedy, maybe not for everyone though - 7/10

More comedy than kung fu, Winners and Sinners is a crazy Hong Kong caper that follows the antics of a bunch of likable ex-convicts as they become unknowing recipients of a briefcase of missing counterfeit money and some printing plates—items much sought after by two gangs of criminals.

The first in the 'Lucky Stars' movies, this good-natured and silly comedy succeeds in being very entertaining (despite not really being THAT funny) largely thanks to its charismatic cast. Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Charlie Chin, Jackie Chan, Shui-Fan Fung, John Sham and (token beauty) Cherie Chung all have starring roles, and even Yuen Baio and Lam Ching Ying pop up in cameos.

Of course, how funny you find this film will depend entirely on your sense of humour (let's say that the laughs are not that sophisticated); the quality of the action, however, cannot be disputed.

Jackie has only a couple of brief fight scenes, but truly shines during a roller skating sequence in which he performs some amazing stunts—first partaking in a competition, and then pursuing a couple of thieves. And if you're not gob-smacked when he skates under a moving lorry and then causes a multiple pile-up, then you should give up watching films altogether.

This being a Sammo Hung film, however, it is the portly one that takes centre stage when the real fighting begins, and fans of his work will not be disappointed. I always find Sammo incredible when he lets feet and fists fly, and in the warehouse-set finale, he delivers some amazing moves. Even if Hong Kong humour is not your cup of tea, Winners and Sinners is worth watching for the end battle alone.

Winners and Sinners is the first of three films in which Jackie Chan 'co-starred' alongside Samo Hung and five Hong Kong comedians called the Lucky Stars. Actually,'co-starred' is not really the word,because Chan's role in these films was little more than a glorified cameo,especially in this one. Chan puts in small appearances in quite a few films,and distributors often give the impression that his role is larger in a film than it actually is.

Still,Winners and Sinners is quite a fun film,actually one of the first Hong Kong films set in the present day that would combine comedy and action. Chan would in time perfect the formula in later films,and Winners and Sinners has rather more comedy than action,which may disappoint action fans. As is often the case,much of the humour,mainly revolving around the antics of the five 'Lucky Stars', does not really work for western audiences,the silly slapstick usually works {well,slapstick always travels well,something Chan had already learnt} but some of it is humour that will only be understood and found funny by a Hong Kong audience. Still,there are some laughs,such as a scene when Richard Ng {easily the funniest of the Lucky Stars} thinks he has become invisable and the rest of the group decide to play along with him,and two very funny comedy fight sequences in which the Lucky Stars try and conceal the fact they can't fight by using silly moves and techniques.

Even if there isn't a great deal of action,what there is is still good. Chan's two scraps are two brief,but his chase scene,which has him rollerskate down a busy road and UNDER a moving lorry,climaxing with a car pile-up involving about thirty cars,is terrific,while Samo Hung has some great fight action in the climax. It's a fun,breezy romp which entertains as long as you don't expect too much. And even if you don't find it funny,you can laugh at gaffs such as the fake grass which has creases in it!

A group of petty thieves who meet in prison decide to go straight and start a cleaning business when they get out. Meanwhile CID 07 (Jackie Chan) is on the trail of a counterfeiter whose printing plates get lost and wind up in the cleaning van owned by our five reformed heroes. Available in both dubbed full-screen and subtitled widescreen version

The first in the Lucky stars series is, as other entries, is daft, zany and fun. The best comic scene is the bit where one of the Lucky stars strips naked and walks around believing that he's invisible, while the others act like they don't see him. Of course, the usual lusting after the girl - in this case Cherie Chung - scene is here, but there's no pervy scenes. As for the action, Jackie, in a downsized appearance, gets in a full on high speed car chase on roller skates, and ducks underneath a lorry, plus there's a car chase ending in a 50-car pileup. There's some frenetically comic kungfu, but comedy takes precedence. Along with My Lucky Stars this is a strong entry.

This is probably Sammo Hung's best work before embarking on his venture to start D&B films. All star cast graces this movie including Jackie Chan, and Yuen Biao. Other stars reads like who's who of Hong Kong movie industry of the '80s.

Five ex cons and a girl starts a cleaning service. They just try to make their living, but soon they get involved with local gangsters, by taking their brief case filled with counterfeit money. What results is a mayhem of trouble and actions relating to the six of them. They find themselves in all sorts of strange situations, and compromising positions, but they use their ingenuity to get the best of the gangsters.

It's hard to tell if this is a comedy or an action movie. Most of the actors are not action stars, but regular movie actors, so it's not like endless action scenes in Jackie Chan's movies. It's more like old school Hong Kong comedy with some good actions inserted in between the story. Some action scenes involving Jackie Chan is a classic, like the one he hangs on to a car wearing his roller skates during a chase.

This is one of the classics from the '80s, and is recommended for viewing.

'Winners & Sinners' is not only the best Sammo Hung movie I've seen, but it's also the best altogether Hong Kong Comedy I've seen. The film combines elements of crime-comedies and Kung Fu films and has a surprisingly high amount of variety.

What also makes the film brilliant are the characters. Every single one of them is very memorable, particularly goofy 'Exhaust Pipe'. Teapot is a typical protagonist of Hung's movies, but very uplifting none the less. Jackie Chan's supporting role is also great and though I probably would have preferred him in the lead he is still incredibly funny as the clumsy cop of the film.

Overall, the film is simply hilarious. The amount of gags is almost unhealthy and this movie ensures that you will be laughing your head off.

Jackie's got a small part, but this proves an enjoyable time-waster...I especially like the begginning when Sammo breaks into a building, and is greeted by the guests of a surprise birthday party for--Sammo Hung! (you have to see it) A lighthearted effort, it's not bad

No, don't blame it on the translators. Even in Cantonese, this Sammo Hung-led comedy (and directed by Hung) is a bonkers film that only Hong Kong could turn out when people could enjoy themselves at the cinema instead of being trapped at the stock market with cellphones.

Famous HK stars accompany Hung, including Richard Ng and John Shum (in his usual comedic style), while Jackie Chan has a minor role as a CID detective. There really isn't much of a story - far less so than usual - but the stunts are over-the-top and enjoyable just for their destruction. Plenty of comed y is injected into the kung-fu fight scenes, too.

It's not for most people - this sort of Hong Kong comedy is more of an acquired taste than the Jackie Chan stuntoramas. See it if you like the style of film; otherwise you'll just sit in front of the telly puzzled.

Wow. What a fantastic film. Okay, the story's been done in 100 other movies, but it's sure more entertaining than any of them. Yes, Jackie Chan's in it, but he only appears in about 1/4 of the film - the rest is up to Sammo Hung and his co-stars. The stunts and fight scenes are something to be proud of, as is the comedic touches in the script, which make it one of my favourite films of all time. Make sure you seek this one out at all costs.

I recently watched Winners & Sinners (1983) on Tubi. The storyline follows five friends running a dry cleaning business and trying to stay out of trouble. They stumble upon a counterfeit money scheme run by a Chinese triad gang that threatens their community. Despite their intentions to stay out of trouble, they might have to bring down the triads whether they want to or not.

This film is written, directed by, and stars icon Sammo Hung (Mr. Nice Guy) and also stars Jackie Chan (Drunken Master), Richard Ng (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life), James Tien (Fist of Fury), John Sham (New Police Story), and Hark-On Fung (Kung Fu Hustle).

This is one of those movies that's more of a comedy with martial arts infused in it than a straightforward martial arts picture. There's never a time a Sammo Hung movie isn't fun. The dialogue can be clunky, and at times the sets, props, and execution feel like a Chinese soap opera. The most memorable sequence for me will always be Jackie Chan rollerskating. The way they cut in his stunt doubles always cracks me up, and his highway rollerskating scene is awesome. There's also a "fight dance" sequence that's really cool and a hilarious "midget robbery." There's a lot to like here.

In conclusion, Winners & Sinners is a must-see for fans of Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan collaborations. I would score this a 6.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

When we bought this flick for our last money, we expected to see an ever so thrilling Jackie Chan performing his best stunt moves and literally "kick some butt". This was not the case since he only appeared in maybe 4 or 5 scenes. Instead his pal, Sammo Hung, did most of the skilled kung-fu fighting. We will not say that he did not have the skills, after all he is the one who made all the coreography to many good hongkong-action movies. We might add that this movies contains several scenes with very lame humor and you have to be a lame sort of person to like it. We are kind of lame so we liked it, even though we have seen much better Jackie Chan movies. A 4/10..

Well, i bought Winners and Sinners, then i heard, Jackie has a pretty small role. It's true. Jackie appears only in couple fights. He doesnt take part to the final fight. But it doesnt matter. The film is great! I like Samo hung's films a lot. Especially i like the 'lucky stars' series, cos the humor is simple, funny and very unique. Humor is stupid and childish, but it fits in just right. I personally like Richard Ng. He is so funny! Of course there is good fight scenes and stunts. And the massive car crash is great in a low budget movie! Dont let Jackie's short appearance spoil the movie. Dont think this movie as a Jackie Chan movie. Think it as 'The lucky stars' movie!

I know this is a Sammo Hung film, and in some ways Sammo Hung's films are superior to Jackie Chan's films. The problem with this film is that if you're not into the slightly over-the-top, Carry-On-esquire lecherous comedy, you'll probably ending up skipping forward to the fight scenes.

The film does not follow Jackie in the same way that it would were it a Jackie Chan film. Chan is given just as much screen time as all of the Lucky Stars.

Many of the gags are sight gags that are easy to understand, if somewhat immature for most tastes, but there are some jokes that lose a lot in translation.

The fighting, when there is any, is either incredible, when being displayed by Sammo, Jackie, or the one scene with Juen Biao, or comedic and unnecessary when we watch the Lucky Stars in combat.

The three brothers (Sammo, Jackie and Yuen) fight incredibly, in a fast, entertaining and more realistic manner than Jackie and Sammo's films of the seventies. The only problem is that the fights are few and far-between. The fact that Yuen Biao is only on screen for a couple of minutes adds insult to injury and leaves you wanting more.

Overall, you might enjoy this film, if you're into the kind of comedy that this film clearly aims to produce. The acting is slightly exaggerated, and there isn't enough fighting, or enough of Jackie or Yuen Biao for my tastes. There are funnier Chan and Hung films out there, and there are better comedies and better fights - even better Lucky Stars movies. All in all this, by their high standards, is a rather average film.

I have seen this Film about 30 times and I always laugh when I see it every time! Everytime I watch that movie, I find always something that I've never realised that it is there. Mostly there are some small details but I find it very interesting. I am a fanatic fan of Jackie Chan and so I saw the movie for the first time because I thought that Jackie Chan will play a great role in this movie. The first time I thought that this movie was the worst of all, because J.Chan had a small role, but after the second time I realised that this Film was exactly what a movie can give you to laugh!

I like this movie because there are many characters as Samo Hung and so you can't get bored, because there are many scenes of action and of humor. Everybody who loves Action and Humor must see it.

Watching "Winners And Sinners" is like going on a treasure hunt: you have to suffer through a lot of corny, childish comedy to get a few prizes. The prizes include: Samo Hung's fight scenes, Yuen Biao's all-too-brief cameo, the long sequence with Jackie Chan that begins with an exhibition of rollerskating stunts, develops into a furious chase and ends with perhaps the biggest, most spectacular car pile-up ever staged, and the one funny scene with the "Lucky Stars", in which one of them believes he is invisible(!). This movie is a mixed bag at best, a scam at worst (for Jackie fans, since the packaging fools them into thinking that he has a major role). (**)

'Winners and Sinners' is one of the funniest movies ever made. First disappointed by the fact, that Jackie Chan's part is pretty small, I started to love the other characters of the movie, especially Teapot (Samo Hung) and Exhaust Pipe (Richard Ng). It's very funny to see, how the members of the 'gang' get arrested (especially Exhaust Pipe trying to steal the wheels of a police officer's car while he is searching his keys).

The humor of the movie is mostly created by the funny dialogues and the stunning fight scenes, which also are, at times, very funny. But if you don't like this kind of 'silly' fun, you won't enjoy this movie. But I did. More than once ore twice (I saw this movie about 30 times). But I must admit, that my relationship to this movie is kind of special. It is one of the movies I have ever seen.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend this movie to everyone who likes silly fun and stunning fight sequences!

P.S.: If you like this movie, watch other 'five lucky stars' - movies like 'Fuk sing go jiu'!

I usually like Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, but this is one of the weaker films I've seen from either of them.

Granted, each gets one really good action scene at least. Chan basically steals the film with a car/rollerskate chase with some extremely entertaining stunts that culminates in a huge car crash/pileup that rivals The Blues Brothers. Hung gets a really entertaining hand-to-hand fight scene with a bunch of goons near the end, too.

There's some other decent action sprinkled throughout, but otherwise this is a mess. I didn't know what was going on for the first 20 minutes, and then I realised nothing was really going on plot wise. It's aimless and even a bit boring when there's no action happening, especially because most of the comedy misfires.

Kinda reminiscent of Bruce Lee's posthumously released Game of Death, where the only watchable stuff is a few great action scenes the legendary star filmed just before he passed away that are shoehorned into an otherwise messy film.

This has a few fun action scenes too, like Game of Death, and to be fair, it has the benefit of not being somewhat disrespectful to a late star's legacy... but it doesn't have a whole lot else to offer, besides maybe some of the natural charm that Chan and Hung have as actors (the other characters are pretty forgettable).

I first saw this movie years ago on TV when I was pretty young and the entire family was in stitches from laughing so hard. It's full of pointless almost slapstick humour, but all done in such an entertaining way that it fits in beautifully with the plot. It has one of the best highway pile-up scenes I've ever seen in a movie, not completely overdone like most movies these days but done in a believable and funny way. Highly recommend this movie to just about anybody. I found the DVD at a rental store years later and took it to a friends's place for a party and everybody loved it. I'm watching it as I write this review, and my stomach is hurting from laughing so hard.

This is certainly the funniest movie I've ever seen. This kind of silly comedy is really different from "Dumb & Dumber", The ZAZ's, the Peter Sellers'. This is simply unique and Sammo Hung and his lucky stars are the only ones on Earth who can achieve this. The ones who claim a good movie absolutely needs a good story should see "Winners and Sinners". What a pleasure to see these silly lucky stars doing ultra-dumb things. Richard Ng and his team are much funnier than any Chris Rock, Laurel & Hardy or Adam Sandler. It's rather impossible to describe exactly what they are capable of : each time I see this movie I'm about to die. The lucky stars have made some other similar movies but this one is surely the most incredible. It's just a masterpiece.

This film is one of the best films from Jackie Chan. It's a good mixture, comedy and martial arts. The gang in the film is very silly and if you look Jackie Chan films you will see them again.

It's a very good film, you have to see it.

I don't know why but I like that kind of movie.This movie haven't got a story but it's filled with great stunts and silly comedy.One of the great stunts is when Jackie drives under a truck with rollerskates and so makes a giant crash (up to 40 cars!).Who likes Hong Kong movies of that kind must see "Winners & Sinners!

This is somewhat of a prelude to the lucky stars of the later hit 'My lucky stars'.

Check it out as this is a funny film with a lot of laughs that you will enjoy in a typical Sammo, Jackie Chan film. And yes Jackie is not in the film for that long, as the main characters are the 5 gang of Sammo, Richard Ng and I can't remember the rest. Its about a gang who just got out of jail and somehow get themselves involved with some mafia and are being chased down by them. But thats towards the end as at the start they were only just getting to know each other and they start pulling practical jokes on each other.

A good entertaining 80s film highly recommended.

Get the DVD digitally remastered version as this contains interviews on the reflection of Sammo from many people and a face I haven't seen for a long time, Elaine Lui.