CROSSING HENNESSY 月滿軒尼詩 Movie Review. A case of overcoming “mental frontiers”.

PRESS PREVIEW

Director IVY HO will always be fondly remembered for penning her award winning screenplay, the 1996′s COMRADES, ALMOST A LOVE STORY starring Maggie Cheung and Leon Lai.

But then, that feature was directed by PETER CHAN who went on to helm bigger stuff, directing and producing a slew of notable successes.

In reality, every film director may agree creatively on a same platform, but when it comes to celluloid treatment, not all great minds think alike.

This is evident as in the case of IVY HO, the writer when she assumed another folio by directing CROSSING HENNESSY.

With due respect to IVY, we feel that she should have stuck to screen writing, and leave the directorial effort to a more meticulous feature director.

Here’s fine tale with an admirable cast, but lacking in a thorough execution.

CROSSING HENNESSY?

Nope, HENNESSY is not a bridge, boat or whatever.

It is a major street in Hong Kong’s bustling business district.

You’ll be treated with the infamous alleys, the trams, the residential blocks, the neons, the old fashioned coffee shops selling cheap teas and cakes, and the myriad of electronic shops cajoling you to buy their wares.

Oh, come on!

We know there’s zero glamor here, only obtrusive reality, just ordinary characters going about mindlessly in their daily grind with this shackled existence called LIFE.

CROSSING HENNESSY tries hard to be one warm story to charm us about simple people leading simpler lives.

But are they, really?

In CROSSING HENNESSY, IVY HO beckons us to delve into the colorful heart of Hong Kong’s WANCHAI, creating an authentic portrait of what it is like to live and love in this ordinary district. Yet the cinematography is bland.

Was the director trying to coin a metaphor by calling this film CROSSING HENNESSY?

Isn’t it right to say that, in each and everyone of us, at some low point  in our lives, we seek to “cross mental frontiers”?

That’d be the time that we’ll do some serious soul searching, probing for a deeper meaning about this thing called life, looking for a questionable identity that we’d probably won’t comprehend.

Life can be simple, yet complicated.

Many of us seek re-inventions, to enjoy happier lifestyles.

Naturally there are those who are self-satiated with life’s lot and still prefer it that way.

In CROSSING HENNESSY, JACKY CHEUNG plays a lack-luster electrical appliance store owner. He is already in his 40s and still very much a dreamer. He’s always dreaming about this absurd Indian guy he often sees in his sleep and has corny “spiritual” conversations with his dead father.

TANG WEI is the pretty yet aloof girl-next-door, who looks after a sanitaryware shop for her uncle. She’s probably in her late 20s.

The relatives of Cheung and Tang set the two up for a date, seeing that they are both still single and available.

Yet the truth is, both Cheung and Tang both have “that special someone” in their hearts.

Cheung is holding a torch for ex-flame Maggie Cheung Ho-Yee, now a divorcee. He is also bedding her.

Tang, on the other hand, is eagerly awaiting the release of her boy friend Andy On from prison to resume the relationship.

The first arranged date for Cheung and Tang bombed, but as days go by, an affable chemistry developed between the two. Love can sometimes “grow” on you when you least expect it, telling you that in this life, feelings should not be taken for granted.

Flaws?  Some.

Clearly, this romantic story lacks a consistency in cohesive direction, trying to stay afloat of the occasional mundane scenes.  A story-telling Director-of-Photography would have helped to uplift the boring environment.

And the  choppy editing isn’t any better.

We are always hurriedly taken through some key scenes and even before we can “hey presto!”, a new scene emerges abruptly.

Character development could have been a lot better and easier on the mind.

Leading man Jackie Cheung appears old, acting goofishly young and lacks onscreen chemistry with Tang Wei.

The supporting cast comprising of Paw Hee-Ching, Maggie Cheung, Mimi Chu, Andy On and Danny Lee render comfortable performances.

It’s a welcome respite to catch Tang Wei again after her controversial role as a spy in Lust Caution (2007).

CROSSING HENNESSY is a watchable movie if you like the idea of indulging in a fairy tale comedy….

plus eye candy TANG WEI would be a delicious treat.

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