Ga yau hei si

Yes, I finally got the chance to sit down and watch the 1992 Hong Kong romantic comedy "All's Well End's Well" (aka "Ga yau hei si") again here in 2021. I remember having seen the movie back in the time around 2003 and 2007, when I lived in Hong Kong, but I couldn't remember the movie. So of course I took the time to sit down and watch it again.

The amount of writers that worked on this movie is just baffling, no less than 10 people were credited as writers. And one might thing that such a group of people would eventually clutter up a script and make it incomprehensible. But they actually managed to come up with a very funny and enjoyable storyline and script for director Clifton Ko to put to the screen.

The storyline told in "All's Well End's Well" was rather enjoyable from the beginning and up to the very end of the movie. Lots of hilarious moments and the different storylines set for the characters were nicely written and interwoven on the screen, which made for a very watchable movie. And I really enjoyed all the homages and spoof on American movies that were seen throughout the course of the movie, performed by Maggie Cheung and Stephen Chow.

If you are familiar with the Hong Kong cinema, then "All's Well End's Well" holds a very impressive cast ensemble, with the likes of Leslie Cheung, Stephen Chow, Maggie Cheung and Sandra Kwan Yue Ng. They were each very memorable and good in the movie, but for me it was especially the performances of Stephen Chow and Maggie Cheung that carried the majority of the movie.

"All's Well End's Well" is a very enjoyable movie and one that easily brings laughs with it. And it is definitely a movie that you should take the time to watch, especially if you enjoy the Hong Kong cinema.

My rating of this 1992 movie lands on a well-deserved seven out of ten stars.

A large extended family lives in a large up-scale estate. The three adult brothers of the house each have a clear and unique personality. The gay brother is very gay. The oldest brother is very successful, but is a sleazy wife cheater. And the younger brother is an unattached, carefree playboy.

The female characters are also clearly potrayed... The housewife is so geeky looking, everything she does is funny to watch. Her husband's classy mistress is very high maintenance. The lesbian cousin is very... well, manly. The unmarried brother's main girlfriend is crazy about movies.

"ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL" smartly spoofs the movie GHOST, and also spends some time poking fun at PRETTY WOMAN, THE TERMINATOR, and even MISERY.

The plot twists and turns with more skill than most Hong Kong comedies ever muster. Also, some of the romantic ploys seen in the movie are fun and clever.

Although there are fewer laughs in the last 30 minutes, ALL'S WELL, ENDS WELL is a fun view -- specially for those who enjoy spoof movies.

A classic Chinese New Year comedy that embodies early 90's Hong Kong when it was at its peak and combines tribute and respect for both Chinese and western culture. It doesn't really require a kickass storyline, as CNY is more about the festive setting and the film does this well with beloved characters of the time. At the end of the day it is a feel good movie and is perfectly to be rewatched even though it is not the best, because it brings us back to better times. Recent CNY film repeatedly tries to become what this film was, but they keep failing because it is more than just budget and cast, it has to ring true to current culture. While the film is full of huge stars from the time, it also has to be said that Maggie Cheung was perhaps the most gorgeous actress ever in Hong Kong cinema.

This is original All's Well Ends Well movie from Hong Kong, brought to you by veteran HK actor Raymond Wong. It is a family comedy about three Shang brothers. Eldest brother Shang Moon (Raymond Wong) is a philandering businessman who mistreats his wife; middle brother Shang Foon (Stephen Chow) is a playboy; and youngest brother Shang So (Leslie Cheung) is a gay dance instructor. Want the hilarity all all three brothers deal with their family and personal issues.

Much of the comedy involves Chow as his typical and classic comedy sends up some laughable moments. While there is a good does of slapstick humor, there is some meaningful drama and romance. While this movie is probably the only one in the series that has a solid plot, the momentum is slow at times and some of the comedy is a little too nonsensical, especially the movie spoofs. But, it's not a bad movie to pass the time with.

Grade B-

The most hilarious movie I have ever encountered, with a super casting of Leslie and Chow Sing Chi.

A must watch, and a movie that never become out of date.