Shed Skin Papa

When I sat down to watch the 2016 Hong Kong comedy drama "Tyut Pei Ba Ba" (aka "Shed Skin Papa"), it was primarily because of two reasons. First, the movie had Francis Ng and Louis Koo on the cast list, and they are both good actors. Secondly, this was a Hong Kong movie that I hadn't already seen. Actually, I didn't even know it existed before I sat down to watch it.

Writers Man-Keung Chan, Roy Szeto, Anson Lam and Norihiko Tsukuda put together a watchable movie for sure. But I have to say that it was also a somewhat strange movie. The storyline in the movie makes this movie somewhat of a niche movie that will not find an appeal with a broader audience. Personally, I found the narrative to be somewhat slow paced, because there wasn't enough momentum to the movie. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that it was a bad movie, not at all, it just could have been better.

The acting performances in the movie were good, and both Francis Ng and Louis Koo carried the movie quite well, just as anticipated. It was fun, though, to see an aged and a gradually younger and younger Francis Ng on the screen. Amazing what can be done today with computers and CGI effects.

If you enjoy Hong Kong movie, then perhaps give director Roy Szeto's 2016 movie "Tyut Pei Ba Ba" a chance. You might just happen to enjoy this particular type of narrative.

My rating of "Tyut Pei Ba Ba" lands on a five out of ten stars.