97 Aces Go Places		Return to Review Archive - Numbers
	Year:	1997	Christy Chung, Alan Tam and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
	Director:	Chin Kar-Lok
	Producer:	Raymond Wong Bak-Ming
	Cast:	Alan Tam Wing-Lun, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Christy Chung Lai-Tai, Donna Chu Kit-Yi, Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Simon Lui Yu-Yeung, Moses Chan Ho, Lam Kwok-Bun, Billy Chow Bei-Lei, Raymond Wong Bak-Ming, Emily Kwan Bo-Wai, Chin Siu-Ho, Ngai Sing, Dayo Wong Chi-Wah, Mang Hoi, Chin Kar-Lok, Vincent Kok Tak-Chiu, Maria Cordero, Timmy Hung Tin-Ming
	The Skinny:	Raymond Wong tries to bring the Aces Go Places formula to the 21st century, thereby proving once and for all that the formula has long since expired.
	Review by Kozo:	Mandarin films' update of the classic cop comedy series is a wack-fest of the most pure HK variety. Sadly, that’s not really a good thing. Eternal 25 year-old Alan Tam is a wimpy triad boss who must avenge his dad because he had a heart attack after losing at cards to a pretty cat burglar (Christy Chung). For help, he enlists Drunk Shooter (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai), HK’s ace gunman, who’s also an incredible souse. Problem: Christy ripped off wacky triad boss Francis Ng, so he wants her, too. Even worse, Alan just doesn’t want to kill Christy because she’s too damn beautiful. Hijinks ensue.       At times the film manages to be funny. There are some strange moments that get a couple of laughs, and Francis Ng overacts so miserably that a chuckle or two is bound to arise. However, there are also mystifying moments of sheer mind-numbing tedium. Alan Tam, while a likable enough guy, is really the weak link in this movie. Tony Leung sometimes achieves some moments of coolness (his Drunken Master bit with the pistols is fun), but he clearly looks like he’s waiting to cash his check. Christy Chung fares the best, as she shows off her newly-acquired kung-fu skills and Jackie Chan-like daring (she does her own stunts in this flick). Not a recommended film, it ends better than it starts, but getting to that point is quite a chore indeed. If you can take it, go ahead and try. (Kozo 1997)
	Availability:	DVD (Hong Kong) Region 0 NTSC Universe Laser Widescreen Cantonese and Mandarin Language Tracks English and Chinese Subtitles
		image courtesy of Tai Seng Video Marketing, Ltd.
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