Winners & Sinners (1983)
(AKA "Five Lucky Stars")
Director: Sammo Hung
Cast:
Plot: Five hopeless petty criminals are released from prison and start up a cleaning firm called "The Five Stars Cleaning Company". One of the group, Teapot, (Sammo Hung) befriends a CID officer (Jackie Chan) who is always getting into trouble with his superiors. In the meantime the "Five Stars" accidentally find themselves in possession of some counterfeit money plates that two rival gangs are trying to obtain. Desperate to show they are now honest citizens they attempt to bring both gangs to justice, but they are no better at crime fighting than they were as criminals.
Review: This action comedy was made for the Chinese New Year and introduced us to what became the "Lucky Stars" series of films. Largely written by its star and director, Sammo Hung, with the assistance of Barry Wong, this film deals with a group of societies failures who become friends in prison and set up a cleaning business when they are released. (By the second film in the series they have somehow become friends from their childhood in an Orphanage, but I digress.) Using the comedy talents of some of Hong Kong's best loved comedy actors to a large extent this is pretty brainless and sometimes dubious entertainment, but fun all the same. The majority of the humour concentrates on our five main characters’ lack of success with the opposite sex, but a comedy highlight is a sequence where Richard Ng's character believes that he can make himself invisible. The other four discover his plan and play along with him, until a postman arrives (Wu Ma in a funny cameo.) to end the joke. Cherie Chung is the object of the men’s attention for most of the film, but one of the films flaws is that she does not really get a chance to develop any real character. A small flaw, but under developed female roles is something that stays throughout this series of films.
One memorable scene features the great Lam Ching Ying as the extremely fussy butler to James Tien's character. When "The Five Stars Cleaning Company" turn up with a contract to clean the house he gives specific instructions that must be obeyed to the letter. Even going as far as telling them where the toilet is for them to clean it, but also saying that under no circumstances can they use it. Just a few moments screen time, but a subtle comic performance played completely deadpan by Lam Ching Ying.
Action fans may be a little disappointed that Jackie Chan does not have more screen time and does not even appear in the finale of the film, but he does have a few nice moments including foiling a robbery (With Sammo’s help) and a chase where he pursues a car on roller skates. The ensuing vehicle pile up is the epitome of over the top stunt work. Another highlight sees Jackie getting into a short skirmish with Yuen Biao (In a short cameo.) over a misunderstanding concerning Yuen's girlfriend. Jackie’s scenes with Philip Chan, who plays his commanding officer are also amusing and show a fine touch for comedy by both men.
The action finale of this film sees the character of Teapot, the most lowly and most put upon member of the group really shine. He and the rest of the Lucky Stars face the bad guys without the help of the police. Sammo appears to take on a warehouse full of gangsters almost single handed using anything that comes to hand, while his four friends are used more to comical effect with their own totally useless styles of Kung Fu fighting. Among the henchmen we have Fung Hak On and the almost ever present Dick Wei.
This may not be the most action packed Sammo Hung film, but on the whole this is solid entertainment that will pass away an hour and a half and leave you smiling, and that for me is always a plus. For the feel good factor alone, it is easy to see why this film was so successful and started a series of action comedy sequels, plus various spin offs and imitations. As another fine example of Sammo Hung’s work this is definitely one to label under "must see".
Rating: 4/5
Director: Sammo Hung
Cast:
Plot: Five hopeless petty criminals are released from prison and start up a cleaning firm called "The Five Stars Cleaning Company". One of the group, Teapot, (Sammo Hung) befriends a CID officer (Jackie Chan) who is always getting into trouble with his superiors. In the meantime the "Five Stars" accidentally find themselves in possession of some counterfeit money plates that two rival gangs are trying to obtain. Desperate to show they are now honest citizens they attempt to bring both gangs to justice, but they are no better at crime fighting than they were as criminals.
Review: This action comedy was made for the Chinese New Year and introduced us to what became the "Lucky Stars" series of films. Largely written by its star and director, Sammo Hung, with the assistance of Barry Wong, this film deals with a group of societies failures who become friends in prison and set up a cleaning business when they are released. (By the second film in the series they have somehow become friends from their childhood in an Orphanage, but I digress.) Using the comedy talents of some of Hong Kong's best loved comedy actors to a large extent this is pretty brainless and sometimes dubious entertainment, but fun all the same. The majority of the humour concentrates on our five main characters’ lack of success with the opposite sex, but a comedy highlight is a sequence where Richard Ng's character believes that he can make himself invisible. The other four discover his plan and play along with him, until a postman arrives (Wu Ma in a funny cameo.) to end the joke. Cherie Chung is the object of the men’s attention for most of the film, but one of the films flaws is that she does not really get a chance to develop any real character. A small flaw, but under developed female roles is something that stays throughout this series of films.
One memorable scene features the great Lam Ching Ying as the extremely fussy butler to James Tien's character. When "The Five Stars Cleaning Company" turn up with a contract to clean the house he gives specific instructions that must be obeyed to the letter. Even going as far as telling them where the toilet is for them to clean it, but also saying that under no circumstances can they use it. Just a few moments screen time, but a subtle comic performance played completely deadpan by Lam Ching Ying.
Action fans may be a little disappointed that Jackie Chan does not have more screen time and does not even appear in the finale of the film, but he does have a few nice moments including foiling a robbery (With Sammo’s help) and a chase where he pursues a car on roller skates. The ensuing vehicle pile up is the epitome of over the top stunt work. Another highlight sees Jackie getting into a short skirmish with Yuen Biao (In a short cameo.) over a misunderstanding concerning Yuen's girlfriend. Jackie’s scenes with Philip Chan, who plays his commanding officer are also amusing and show a fine touch for comedy by both men.
The action finale of this film sees the character of Teapot, the most lowly and most put upon member of the group really shine. He and the rest of the Lucky Stars face the bad guys without the help of the police. Sammo appears to take on a warehouse full of gangsters almost single handed using anything that comes to hand, while his four friends are used more to comical effect with their own totally useless styles of Kung Fu fighting. Among the henchmen we have Fung Hak On and the almost ever present Dick Wei.
This may not be the most action packed Sammo Hung film, but on the whole this is solid entertainment that will pass away an hour and a half and leave you smiling, and that for me is always a plus. For the feel good factor alone, it is easy to see why this film was so successful and started a series of action comedy sequels, plus various spin offs and imitations. As another fine example of Sammo Hung’s work this is definitely one to label under "must see".
Rating: 4/5
Review by D. M.
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"I'd love if the audience remembered me.
Everything about my movies, my characters.
Don't forget me.
I'm happy that you guys don't forget me.
I love you."
(Sammo Hung)
Everything about my movies, my characters.
Don't forget me.
I'm happy that you guys don't forget me.
I love you."
(Sammo Hung)
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