THE MOST DISASTROUS movie experience is probably to see a comedy that's neither funny nor boring enough to put you in a coma. Iron Ladies 2 is a recent good example.
Iron Ladies 2 is a sequel to Iron Ladies, an hysterical Thai comedy about glamorous ladyboys playing volleyball that hit Hong Kong in 2000. But Iron Ladies 2 doesn't live up to its predecessor's expectations. The story is a structural mess, and none of the scenes are amusing.
The film begins with Nong (Giorgio Maiocchi) who turns his (or her) back on his friends to join another team. Then his best friend and teammate Jung (Chaicharn Nimpoonsawas), who is angry with Nong's decision, together with captain Chai (Jessadaporn Pholdee) set out to find Pia (Gokgorn Benjathikul) in southern China and bring her back to play against Nong's new team. Jung then recalls the old days with Nong. And the rest of the film begins to fall apart when the film moves back and forth between Jung's present and past.
Director Yongyoot Thongkong-toon apparently needs to improve his narrative skills. Audiences will find it hard to follow such a loose plot. The time frame is unclear, leaving the audience wondering what they are watching.
The sets and the scenes, and even the supposed-to-be-funny ladyboys' gestures are a big turn-off this time.
The producers of the Hong Kong version should realise how bad this film is, and try to do a better job with the Cantonese dubbing, starring pop stars like Miriam Yeung Chin-wah and celebrity radio DJ Eric Kot Man-fai. Some of the dialogue is the sole source of humour. The bits making fun of showbiz and our government get the odd laugh, but these fail to save the film.
