I Do
This 1985 Cinema City venture should have a label
attached saying for “Ann Bridgewater fans only”. Thankfully, I am one of
those and have come to realize from a number of e-mails that so are quite
a few other people. Considering that during her fairly short career (1985-1993),
she primarily was attached to “B” films with the exception of Full Contact,
she attracted a lot of fans that still harbor a sense of affection for
her. At the same time, she has been discovered by newer HK film fans who
have come across her in Full Contact or some of her Stephen Chow films
or even her Cinema City comedies.
It’s is not hard to understand why people find
her so appealing with her beautifully intriguing looks (a mix of Chinese
and English), a dazzling smile and light comedic touch. What is more surprising
is that she never became a bigger star than she did. Even in an early piddling
film such as this one, she simply stands out and every scene she is in
feels worth watching.
One interesting tidbit about her background
is that prior to going into film, Ann was a championship ice skater who
competed internationally. I have always felt a bit skeptical about this
information – HK doesn’t seem to be the most natural place to come from
to be a champion ice skater – but now I have seen it first hand. This film
has three scenes in which Ann dons the ice skates and puts on a show and
she clearly is a hell of a good skater.
Ann (her characters name as well) returns to HK
from abroad and looks for employment. Her first job as an ice skate teacher
lasts for about two minutes as she tells the little eight year old girls
“ice skating is as easy as do-re-mi” and proceeds to put on a showcase
that ends on a screeching dime right in front of them – and sends them
screaming to their moms! Next, Ann gets work in a flower shop – and she
and her female friend begin a romance with the two guys working in a photo
shop – one of them is Liu Wai Hung and the other possibly Wan Wai Lun.
The latter fellow turns out to be a very good skater as well and the two
of them have a couple of duets.
Complications arise because it turns out that
Ann is from a very wealthy family, while her boyfriend is not. Helen Law
Lan as the head servant tries to sabotage the romance because she hates
the idea of anyone rising above their status. The boy wants to prove himself
and so goes to work for Ng Man-tat at a printing press. None of this is
particularly involving – in fact it is quite dull – but it was kind of
neat seeing Ann skating like an angel and motorcycling and breakdancing!
My rating for this film: 4.0