All for the Winner
Director: Jeff Lau/Corey Yuen
Year: 1990
Rating: 8.0
This 1990 film was
Stephen Chow’s first comedic hit and was to begin his journey into becoming
Hong Kong's resident comic genius. Previously, Chow had been in a few dramas
and a few decent comedies, but in this one he successfully brings together
certain comedic elements that he was to often use and build on during his
career – a naïve almost blank persona, film parodies, toilet humor
and verbal banter among others. The film is quite humorous – though in a
low-key manner - but it also has a few top-notch action scenes as well as
a few moments that feel very heartfelt. It is a jewel of a film and it is
no wonder that it was a box-office hit. It was also his first true
pairing up with his sidekick Ng Man-Tat. The two of them have since appeared
together in many more of Chow’s films and have developed a real bounce off
one another type of chemistry.
After the huge popularity of Chow Yun Fat’s 1989 God of Gamblers, there
was an outpouring of films with gambling themes. Stephen Chow, though going
for the humorous angle, was clearly influenced by that film and at one point
he actually watches God of Gamblers in order to learn how to look cool. Of
course when he makes a grand entrance in slow-mo ala God of Gamblers – everyone
thinks he is crazy. Chow comes from the Mainland to stay with
his uncle – Ng Man-Tat – who soon learns that Chow has psychic powers and
the ability to look through things. Chow is such an innocent that he has never
used his powers for any personal gain, but under the wise (and greedy) tutelage
of his uncle, Chow is directed into the world of gambling. Clearly the ability
to see the cards and read the minds of horses is a big plus and soon Ng Man-Tat
and Chow are making lots of money and coming to the attention of others.
On one occasion a gang of thugs come after them and Chow displays some stunning
martial arts abilities.
Eventually he comes across the beautifully
divine angular looks of Cheung Man who is a killer for a big shot gambler
– Paul Chun Pui and falls madly in love with her. Cheung Man was to become
Chow’s favorite female co-star for many years until a falling out. She looks
great here – has some very nice action scenes – and nearly steals every scene
she is in.
Finally the World Championship of Gamblers takes place and Chow has to face
Paul Chun only to discover that his powers have disappeared – and only the
power of love can bring them back. This film really doesn’t have a weak moment –
but it also doesn’t have too many laugh out loud routines. One that was
though was absurd and was a wonderful hint of things to come in future films.
In this routine Chow becomes attached to Sandra Ng’s under arm mole because
it reminds him of Cheung Man and she has to keep her arm up to keep his powers
intact. Chow takes it to some very funny extremes. There is also a nice turn done from Corey Yuen
who plays one of the people that Ng Man-Tat lives with and he is the conscious
of the movie.
