My Dad is a Jerk
Director: Joe Cheung Tung-cho
Year: 1997
Rating: 6.5
This sweet – but
not saccharine – film is very predictable for the most part – like putting
on a pair of old shoes - but that doesn’t stop it from being an enjoyable
stop to make. It’s not all that funny or all that dramatic - just an enjoyable
slice of life about a few people and a few meaningful weeks in their lives.
The acting from everyone is very natural and believable.
Lau Ching-Wan is a man who has never really
grown up. At heart he is still a kid. His nickname is “Sloping Shoulders”
because he shrugs off all responsibility. He is a parking attendant at a Karaoke
and one evening his past touches him on those sloping shoulder. His ex-wife
Cecilia Yip who has immigrated to Canada comes back to HK to ask him to take
care of their 10-year old son for two weeks. LCW hasn’t seen him for years
and initially can’t even remember his name, but agrees to look after him.
Cecilia Yip is only in a few scenes – but she is absolutely terrific and
looks great.
The rest of the film is simply about the
relationship that develops between Dad and son and the coming of age of LCW.
Hsu Chi is his “girlfriend” who drops in from time to time, but can’t get
any sign of commitment from LCW. Their relationship also takes on new depth
in the ensuing weeks. When I thought the film was nearly at an end, the director
throws an unnecessary melodramatic curve ball at us, but the film still works
for the most part.
I don’t care what people may say about her
acting ability, Hsu Chi is a pleasure to watch in this film. She is just
so natural – just watch her carefully – she is always doing something interesting
with her body movement or face. You always get the feeling that she just loves
doing the work she does.
