Biao jie, ni hao ye!

This is a very funny comedy which reflects how the society was in Hong Kong and in China. It is not easy to find this film anymore, so watch it if you do get the chance.

Her Fatal Ways is a highly successful 90s Asian comedy (the popular film has since spawned several sequels) with an award-winning performance from leading lady, Do Do Cheng, as Sister Cheng, an ultra-patriotic mainland Chinese security officer who is given the job of escorting a prisoner to Hong Kong. When the prisoner escapes, she sets out to recapture him, aided by her assistant and the HK police force.

Much of the movie's humour is derived from the clash of cultures, with Cheng's socialist character constantly at odds with her capitalist surroundings. Whilst Asian audiences may have found this side-splittingly funny, I didn't find it the least bit amusing; something was definitely lost in translation. And with only a little fight action sprinkled sparingly into the 100 minutes running time, I found myself rather bored by this distinctly Chinese comedy.

If you fully understand and appreciate the Chinese sense of humour, then maybe you will get more fun from this than I did. However, if, like me, you often struggle to get the joke, then you may be better off giving this a miss.

Director Alfred Cheung must either hate Mainland Chinese or something, as this film hilariously sends them up! Two Mainlander cops bring with them a prisoner, and poor Tony Leung has to look after them during their stay. Dodo Cheung gives an amazing performance as the loudmouthed, patriotic Madam-she is so funny without being anything remotely vulgar (which is a great temptation). The scenes where Tony's father and Dodo battle it out is a classic. A wonderful parody of Mainland Chinese cops and their methods of investigations...."We don't need evidence to charge people! All we need is our imagination!".

This is a Hong Kong action comedy, a fast-paced and well-acted movie about mainland Chinese police inspector Cheng Shih-Nan (Carol 'Do Do' Cheng) visiting Hong Kong to bring drug suspect Niu (Michael Man-Kin Chow) to the custody of the Hong Kong Police. After Niu escapes, she is forced to team-up with Hong Kong Detective Wu Wei-Kuo (Tony Ka Fai Leung) to capture him, and later, drug lord Sho Kwok-Wing (Kong Fong).

It was entertaining seeing both Nan and Kuo's methods of operations as they clash with each other as their Mainland Communist and Hong Kong Capitalist credentials come in full force. While the old-fashion good guy vs. bad guy action is entertaining, the collaboration of the Mainland and Hong Kong show a sense of rare teamwork and sportsmanship and was acted out well in this movie.

Carol Cheng and Tony Leung had great chemistry together and delivered a good mixture of comedy and drama. Alfred Cheung played a great sidekick to Carol and Kau Lam played a funny and no-nonsense Nationalist patriot father to Tony Leung. The cameo appearances of Lam's old soldier comrades, played by some of Hong Kong's old legendary actors, were a real treat.

It's a movie with a perfect blend of action and comedy, with a great message. A must see!

Grade A