This comedy just falls flat

TVB all-stars strut their stuff in full force in the slapstick comedy Fortune Buddies, which quite possibly sets the record for most characters in a Hong Kong film.

Lam (Wong Cho-lam) wishes to marry his long-time real estate agent girlfriend Fiona (Fiona Sit). His would-be father-in-law (Eric Tsang) will give his blessing only if he makes HK$500,000 in just six months. Unfortunately, Lam is (mostly) unemployed and incompetent. He works odd jobs, like acting as a film extra, and makes little money.

His two roommates and best buddies, Lee Chit Sau (Johnson Lee) and Yuen Fuk-cheung (Louis Yuen), are no better off: they, too, are down on their luck and unemployed.

Then out of nowhere, the prospect of fame and fortune comes knocking on their door in the form of wrestling bouts on a Mong Kok street. A group of bulked-up pro wrestlers offer them HK$500,000 for just one match. (Wait, that's exactly the amount Lam needs so he can marry. I've always loved how neatly such plot devices worked.)

The three friends reluctantly accept - and win. No spoiler here; it's a foregone conclusion.

TVB films are notorious for not leaving anyone on their roster behind. Every TVB star - big, small, young and old - has a role in the already packed cast.