18 Times
Reviewed by YTSL
They don’t seem to make movies like these any
more; and despite this 1988 offering not exactly being a classic production,
more’s the pity re it, IMHO. If nothing else, I’d wager that many a
Hong Kong film fan will enjoy seeing so many familiar faces – some of which,
like that of the man I’ll always look upon as the flasher whose member Michelle
Yeoh’s character made into a bookmark in “Yes Madam!”, are very recognizable
even if their names may not be -- appearing in a single work. The rather
original premise as well as high zaniness quotient of this comedy -- about
a marriage-inclined woman who gets widowed way more times than she would
like -- are other factors in its favor. Still, this is not to say that
it is an effort that ought to be approached without a measure of indulgence
(on account of it being, to put it mildly, a less than sophisticated film).
18 TIMES opens with a charming sequence in which some boys and girls look
to be playing at “getting married”, only for the “bride” to get stood up
by more than one male. Fast forward some two decades or so and the
now adult Gigi’s problem lies less in her being unable to find men to marry
her and more in their inability to stay alive for long, especially after
they make or somehow come by a fortune. So rapidly does she (who is
portrayed by Cherie Chung) go through husbands that it took four tries for
her lawyer (Woo Fung making a cameo appearance) to get right her most current
married name. Indeed, as is later revealed in the film, at this juncture
in the tale, multimillionairess Gigi had already outlived not four but fourteen
husbands.
However, she -- who had sought to be someone’s wife from early childhood
– was still not about to give up her search for the Mr. Right, and soon set
her eyes on a feminist activist by the name of David So (who comes in the
form of John Sham). As an upset Gigi tells her therapist (Raymond is
played by Paul Chun Pui), as with all the other marriages, it all started
roaringly but shortly after David comes by a fortune (in donations from his
mostly female supporters), he also met Mr. Death and his Maker. In
a bid to cheer Gigi up, her feisty aide and friend, Chi (Teresa Carpio gives
a lively performance here in 18 TIMES) takes her to a club where a comedian
(Jack gets portrayed by a segment -- if not show -- stealing Eric Tsang)
is putting on a show. Rather predictably, Gigi falls for Jack and vice
versa. What is way more unexpected is how Jack ends up kicking the
bucket -- and though one rightly ought not find those circumstances to be
as hysterically funny as I did, I have to admit that I did find the entire
“Jack” section to be the most hilarious as well as best part of the movie.
While she is still in mourning dress, Gigi – along with Chi and Gigi’s driver
(the latter of whom is played by Dennis Chan) – get effectively car-jacked
and held hostage by a pair of robbers fleeing a crime scene. While
the ill-tempered Big Brow (Shing Fui On in a characteristic “bad guy” role)
is a bonafide baddie, it turns out that nervy High Lo (who is essayed by
Lowell Lo, one of those Hong Kong movie music composers – along with the
likes of Frankie Wong, James Wong Jim and Tats Lau – whose appearance is
not what one expects of members of their profession) is actually an undercover
cop. After managing to effect the delivery of the criminal gang that
he was supposed to be a part of into the arms of the law and thereby also
the freeing of Gigi and co., High Lo gets roped into being husband number
seventeen for the still young multiple widow. Before too long however,
he succumbs to a similar fate as all of her previous spouses (albeit in a
pretty unusual manner), and a majorly distraught Gigi is left vowing to never
marry a loved one ever again.
So what is to happen when charming, laid-back and handsome-looking Jack Wong
(who comes in the form of Kenny Bee) comes along into Gigi’s life?
Will the no less attractive Gigi be able to resist the smitten Jack?
If so (and let’s put it this way: I.e., a clue re this lies in this
movie’s title being 18 TIMES…), how will the two love birds ward off the
ill fate that seeming invariably permanently befalls the men in her life?
Also, how does director Joe Cheung manage to fit in cameos by the likes of
Wu Ma, Benz Kong, Tommy Wong, Chung Fat, John Ching Tung and Philip Ko Fei
into this “surely only in (1980s) Hong Kong…” picture? Additionally,
how in the world did this rather amusing work get categorized as a DRAMA
in such as the HKMDB?! To find out the answers to all but the last
question, go get yourself a copy of this movie, which slowed down somewhat
and threatened to get rather lame in the last quarter but ultimately does
end on an inspired note.
My rating for the film: 6.5