3.5/5 stars Prison dramas have remained an infrequent yet regular event in Hong Kong cinemas – think 2015’s Imprisoned: Survival Guide for Rich and Prodigal , 2017’s With Prisoners and 2019’s P Storm – in spite of the dwindling number of local productions in the past decade. Among these, the new release Breakout Brothers , even with its C-list cast and general lack of gimmicks, arguably proves the most entertaining one of this recent batch. A prison-break story that touches on such heart-warming notions as the importance of family and the selfless nature of friendship, this engaging movie by Mak Ho-pong (co-director of the forgettable 2018 horror The Lingering ) revolves around petty criminal Chan Ho-ching (Louis Cheung Kai-chung), who has learned to thoroughly enjoy life behind bars despite having a very nice girlfriend (Jeana Ho Pui-yu) outside. Chan’s mentality takes a sharp turn when his beloved mother suddenly falls ill and requires an urgent kidney transplant from him to stay alive. When his temporary parole is rejected by the self-serving warden Tang (Kenny Wong Tak-bun), the desperate son decides to stage his own prison break with the indignant new inmate Mak Kin-tin (Adam Pak Tin-nam), who insists he has been framed for a crime he didn’t commit. The story by Edmond Wong Chi-mun and Hayley Fu then introduces us to a pair of duelling mobsters: the sadistic Scar (Justin Cheung Kin-seng), a lifer who swiftly begins to torture Mak; and the flamboyant Big Roller (Patrick Tam Yiu-man), who soon settles a past grievance with Mak and decides to join the escape plan – in an unlikely attempt to be present for his long-estranged daughter’s wedding day. Apart from milking the drama of these prisoners’ shifting alliances, Breakout Brothers derives much humour from the trio’s meticulous planning for their big escape. A scene about the convoluted process to make a duplicate key is especially hilarious. The film’s production value may look modest, but it always seems to find the right amount of visual effects to keep the audience informed about its protagonists’ efforts. While Louis Cheung plays the lead character with his usual smartass screen persona, Pak is here for one of his most notable roles to-date. However, it is Tam, as the traumatised gang boss with a very emotional past, who leaves the most impression in the story, particularly towards the end. This is not exactly a memorable movie, though I certainly enjoyed every minute that I spent with these affable characters. Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook