Le Gagnant

Winners and Sinners is the first of three films in which Jackie Chan 'co-starred' alongside Samo Hung and five Hong Kong comedians called the Lucky Stars. Actually,'co-starred' is not really the word,because Chan's role in these films was little more than a glorified cameo,especially in this one. Chan puts in small appearances in quite a few films,and distributors often give the impression that his role is larger in a film than it actually is.

Still,Winners and Sinners is quite a fun film,actually one of the first Hong Kong films set in the present day that would combine comedy and action. Chan would in time perfect the formula in later films,and Winners and Sinners has rather more comedy than action,which may disappoint action fans. As is often the case,much of the humour,mainly revolving around the antics of the five 'Lucky Stars', does not really work for western audiences,the silly slapstick usually works {well,slapstick always travels well,something Chan had already learnt} but some of it is humour that will only be understood and found funny by a Hong Kong audience. Still,there are some laughs,such as a scene when Richard Ng {easily the funniest of the Lucky Stars} thinks he has become invisable and the rest of the group decide to play along with him,and two very funny comedy fight sequences in which the Lucky Stars try and conceal the fact they can't fight by using silly moves and techniques.

Even if there isn't a great deal of action,what there is is still good. Chan's two scraps are two brief,but his chase scene,which has him rollerskate down a busy road and UNDER a moving lorry,climaxing with a car pile-up involving about thirty cars,is terrific,while Samo Hung has some great fight action in the climax. It's a fun,breezy romp which entertains as long as you don't expect too much. And even if you don't find it funny,you can laugh at gaffs such as the fake grass which has creases in it!

'Winners & Sinners' is not only the best Sammo Hung movie I've seen, but it's also the best altogether Hong Kong Comedy I've seen. The film combines elements of crime-comedies and Kung Fu films and has a surprisingly high amount of variety.

What also makes the film brilliant are the characters. Every single one of them is very memorable, particularly goofy 'Exhaust Pipe'. Teapot is a typical protagonist of Hung's movies, but very uplifting none the less. Jackie Chan's supporting role is also great and though I probably would have preferred him in the lead he is still incredibly funny as the clumsy cop of the film.

Overall, the film is simply hilarious. The amount of gags is almost unhealthy and this movie ensures that you will be laughing your head off.

More comedy than kung fu, Winners and Sinners is a crazy Hong Kong caper that follows the antics of a bunch of likable ex-convicts as they become unknowing recipients of a briefcase of missing counterfeit money and some printing plates—items much sought after by two gangs of criminals.

The first in the 'Lucky Stars' movies, this good-natured and silly comedy succeeds in being very entertaining (despite not really being THAT funny) largely thanks to its charismatic cast. Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Charlie Chin, Jackie Chan, Shui-Fan Fung, John Sham and (token beauty) Cherie Chung all have starring roles, and even Yuen Baio and Lam Ching Ying pop up in cameos.

Of course, how funny you find this film will depend entirely on your sense of humour (let's say that the laughs are not that sophisticated); the quality of the action, however, cannot be disputed.

Jackie has only a couple of brief fight scenes, but truly shines during a roller skating sequence in which he performs some amazing stunts—first partaking in a competition, and then pursuing a couple of thieves. And if you're not gob-smacked when he skates under a moving lorry and then causes a multiple pile-up, then you should give up watching films altogether.

This being a Sammo Hung film, however, it is the portly one that takes centre stage when the real fighting begins, and fans of his work will not be disappointed. I always find Sammo incredible when he lets feet and fists fly, and in the warehouse-set finale, he delivers some amazing moves. Even if Hong Kong humour is not your cup of tea, Winners and Sinners is worth watching for the end battle alone.

'Winners and Sinners' is one of the funniest movies ever made. First disappointed by the fact, that Jackie Chan's part is pretty small, I started to love the other characters of the movie, especially Teapot (Samo Hung) and Exhaust Pipe (Richard Ng). It's very funny to see, how the members of the 'gang' get arrested (especially Exhaust Pipe trying to steal the wheels of a police officer's car while he is searching his keys).

The humor of the movie is mostly created by the funny dialogues and the stunning fight scenes, which also are, at times, very funny. But if you don't like this kind of 'silly' fun, you won't enjoy this movie. But I did. More than once ore twice (I saw this movie about 30 times). But I must admit, that my relationship to this movie is kind of special. It is one of the movies I have ever seen.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend this movie to everyone who likes silly fun and stunning fight sequences!

P.S.: If you like this movie, watch other 'five lucky stars' - movies like 'Fuk sing go jiu'!

This is probably Sammo Hung's best work before embarking on his venture to start D&B films. All star cast graces this movie including Jackie Chan, and Yuen Biao. Other stars reads like who's who of Hong Kong movie industry of the '80s.

Five ex cons and a girl starts a cleaning service. They just try to make their living, but soon they get involved with local gangsters, by taking their brief case filled with counterfeit money. What results is a mayhem of trouble and actions relating to the six of them. They find themselves in all sorts of strange situations, and compromising positions, but they use their ingenuity to get the best of the gangsters.

It's hard to tell if this is a comedy or an action movie. Most of the actors are not action stars, but regular movie actors, so it's not like endless action scenes in Jackie Chan's movies. It's more like old school Hong Kong comedy with some good actions inserted in between the story. Some action scenes involving Jackie Chan is a classic, like the one he hangs on to a car wearing his roller skates during a chase.

This is one of the classics from the '80s, and is recommended for viewing.