Pretty Ghost
This fairly cute and harmless comedy serves up
lovely portions of Rosamund Kwan in full pout mode. Rosamund isn’t particularly
noted for her pout – a facial expression that many HK actresses have developed
into a science worthy of a Nobel Prize – the impudent pout, the I’m so
adorable pout, the seductive pout, the play hard to get pout, the let’s
act like a little girl who lost her doll pout, the your dessert looks better
than mine pout. In most of the films that I have seen Rosamund in, she
is pretty straightforward – sophisticated to some degree and generally
adult like - and occasionally "take no prisoners" sexy – but here she springs
the pout on us like a guerrilla ambush – and I must admit it is quite effective.
Maybe it’s because she is a ghost. Maybe I should start at the beginning
of this story.
Tony Leung Kar-Fai is an architect who is very
smitten with his co-worker Ellen Chan – and who wouldn’t be? Ellen is picture
perfect – like a Renoir without a frame – and a lovely person to boot.
Her only imperfection is her boyfriend – the beefy and boorish Michael
Chow who she regrettably seems attached to like a bad cold. Tony being
a bit shy and awkward around women can only steal secret glances at Ellen
and leave baskets of flowers on her desk when she isn’t looking.
Fortunately, Tony dies – well make that almost
dies – a wicked ghost is after his spirit and has Tony nearly crossing
into Hell when Rosamund – in a flowing white gown and lightly floating
through the air – rescues him and brings him back into the land of the
living. In their interaction though Tony breathes into the mouth of Rosamund
and then accidentally faxes her to his house – an easy mistake to make.
At one time or another, we have all probably done the same.
As you no doubt know – breathing into a ghost
creates this connection between the two of you - you feel what the other
person (or ghost) feels. So Rosamund becomes the ghost who stays for dinner
– and breakfast – and lunch – she is in no rush to leave – and though she
can’t help with the rent, she comes in very handy when Tony decides to
press full court for Ellen. This all works out swimmingly except when Tony
suddenly breaks into tears because Rosamund is watching a weepie on TV
or into hysterical laughter (as Ellen is telling him about her dead dog)
because Rosamund switched to a comedy.
Rosamund is soon pouting up a storm though because
she develops a sweet tooth for Tony herself - but it’s a bit frustrating
because as many HK films have shown us ghosts and humans don’t really mesh
well – if you think seeing a woman's face in the morning can be scary -
wait till you see her ghost face! - but if Tony were dead then it would
be different. Her father, Woo Fung, who we first meet playing soccer with
his own head decides maybe he can help – by killing Tony and making his
little girl happy.
By turns sweet and mildly comical, the film doesn’t
have any substance at all – but it has Tony Leung in a genial fall over
his own feet performance, Rosamund looking very soft and comfy, Ellen being
the beautiful straight woman – and some enjoyable special effects that
would have been right at home in a Disney film of the 60’s. Also appearing
is funny lady Miu Siu-wai as a ping pong revenge seeking secretary and
cameos from Alfred Cheung and Lawrence Cheng – both as priests.
My rating for this film: 6.0