The funniest man in Hong Kong. Both as an actor, as well as a director, Chow left his mark on Hong Kong comedy cinema. His sense of humor is somewhat of an acquired taste, but Chow proved his work has plenty of international appeal.
Movies
It's a good thing Shoalin Soccer is this much fun, because beyond its successful comedy aspect it's clear the film is somewhat lacking.
Fun and entertaining Stephen Chow film that delivers a perfect blend of Chow's trademark comedy with some martial arts ass kicking. An army of familiar faces, some hilarious action scenes and of course Chow himself add up to a film that is hard not to love. One of Chow's clear highlights, which makes this a must-see for fans of comedy.
A film that could charm you as easily as it could disappoint you. Chow is enough of a director to pull it off, but those wanting another typical Chow comedy will be left with empty hands.
One of Stephen Chow and Lik-Chi Lee's final collaborations (as directors). Later on, Chow would seize complete control over his films, which turned out to be a very smart move. God of Cookery is lots of fun though, a culinary take on the gambling films of that era, with Chow stealing the show once more. It's no highbrow cinema, but Chow is comedy gold, the presentation is slick, the cooking scenes are lots of fun and the pacing is perfect. One of the best films Hong Kong comedy has on offer, and one that is sure to leave you hungry once the end credits start rolling.
Stephen Chow's James Bond parody. Together with Lik-Chi Lee he takes a pretty standard Hong Kong crime story and laces it with references to the infamous spy. It was one of the earlier Chow films I watched and really dug it the first time around. It didn't quite hold on rewatch though. Ling Ling Chai has been working as a poor butcher for the past 10 years, but when a dinosaur head is stolen he is reactivated. He is sent to Hong Kong to find out the mysterious thief who has stolen the artifact before it gets sold off. Chai is not the most typical special agent, but his methods are pretty effective. Chow is still great. His facial expressions, body language, and comedic timing are pretty much perfect. The film is a little low on actual gags though, and while there are some very funny ones some are a bit too expected. The presentation is also a tad disappointing. It's still a very fun comedy, just not the gem I remembered it to be.Read all
Chow and Yau return with a Mainland remake of Chow's own King of Comedy. The original isn't my favorite Chow and this remake doesn't improve on it. There are a few chuckles and it's clear Chow grew as a director, but in the process the silliness that set his work apart seems to have gone lost. Not bad, not great either.
1:99 Shorts
Commissioned anthology that was made to lift the spirit of Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic. The who's who of Hong Kong cinema participated, but the result is a little uneven. Not too surprising considering the exterior motives behind this anthology, and there are a couple of worthwhile entries, but overall it's probably best to lower your expectations when watching this.
