This comedy just falls flat

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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.

Fortune Buddies tries too hard to be funny. If filmmakers aimed only to be amusing, they would fare better. The bad acting and lame story just get in the way.

YP Rating: 0/5

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