“THE FORTUNE BUDDIES” 勁抽褔祿壽 Hong Kong Movie Review. Three SILLY BILLIES playing GODS of FORTUNE.

HONG KONG MOVIE  勁抽褔祿壽 “THE FORTUNE BUDDIES” PRESS PREVIEW.

Bored?

Don’t be.

Here’s another of the regular Hong Konger’s “staple diet” comedy to tickle you pink.

It may not be your ideal cup of tea though, unless you dig mindless slapsticks.

But then, just like the “child” embedded in all of us, if you care to remember the famous MARY POPPINS character who sings the 60s classic verse “In very job that must be done, there’s an element of fun and a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way.”

It’s like saying the occasional farce can expedite wonders for a stressed out soul.

Cool.

So get set for the made-for-chuckles FORTUNE BUDDIES, the latest Hong Kong laugh-out-loud offering, nevertheless a smirk therapy, albeit a welcome destressor.

It originated from a once popular Hong Kong TVB wisecracking-and-dance variety show called LIZA AND THE THREE GODS known largely for the male cross dressing gags.

On a serious note, we are not talking about demi-gods here.

These three “gods” are the not-so-young and definitely far from being labeled pretty boys, and they are the effervescent Wong Cho Lam, Louis Yuen Siu Cheung and Johnson Lee Si Jit. They lead the story.

The package comes with the ever squeaky Eric Tsang and a host of well-worn faces from TVB in silly cameos.

Minus the grand dame Liza Wang who has been unceremoniously written out of the scrīpt as she is a dispensable “no go”.

It’s obvious that the retro queen Liza’s hey days are long over even if she still adamant about “keeping up with the times”.  Maybe one should tell her to bask in past glories and leave fond memories as they are.

Hopefully this movie may usher in a generous sprinkle of cheer to brighten up anybody’s sometimes stereo-typed working life.

In Hong Kong, apartments for the average Hong Konger are smaller than small and “cooping in the nest” can be liken to life in a pressure cooker.

The citizens need a quick fix other than going to the doctor, and crazy entertainment like “THE FORTUNE BUDDIES” where the actors “belittle” and poke fun at all and sundry, including themselves can be a welcome respite.

You visit the cinema to have a hearty laugh, never mind the plot.

So in gallop this comely slapstick featuring three foul-mouthed, conniving, exploitative silly buddies who take absolute delight in looking for trouble. Expect loads of  bawdy nonsense and remember to switch off your “disbelief” mode at escapades that make no sense. Especially when you have three nutty comedians from TVB spewing mindless cracks and vulgarities to get the ball rolling.

Hop on in!

FORTUNE BUDDIES does not offer you a logical plot line. Chiefly it hollers about three bosom buddies who are “sworn” brothers who will stick to one another through thick and thin. It starts with Lam Lok (Wong Cho Lam) who intends to marry his childhood sweetheart.  His materialistic future father-in-law demands that he pays a down payment of five hundred thousand dollars for a flat as a form of sincerity.

The three chums rally together to work in all kinds of menial jobs (property agent, part-time actor, security guard, driver) to raise the money. They even attempt at cross dressing stints, busk in Mongkok’s infamous Sai Yeung Choi Street and wrestle in the open donning ridiculous masks and attire.

That is, until a foreigner who is actually a professional wrestler from the World Wrestling Entertainment pitches a challenge and this is where the story speeds up and escalates towards a crescendic climax.

It’s all well that ends well, finally.

If you had thoroughly enjoyed producer Eric Tsang’s Lunar New Year’s blockbuster “I Love Hong Kong”, then this one’s for you.

NOW, JUST SEND IN THE CLOWNS.

“WE ARE NOT YOUR REGULAR PRETTY BOY TYPE. BUT TRUST US, WE ARE A LOT BETTER. WE ARE CHARISMATIC DANDIES.”

“HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU, DUDES!”

“WE ARE THE FORTUNE BUDDIES AND HERE’S A TOAST FROM EACH AND EVERYONE OF US.”

“FOR ALL OUR HARD WORK, THE FORTUNE BUDDIES WILL SURELY BE A ROARING BOX-OFFICE SUCCESS!”