frankly speaking in past hours, I was thinking back to the day I watched a movie with the family members. It is kinda an old story as I could not even remember the movie title. But I am sure it was a Hong Kong movie. After so many years, I gained the opportunity to bring the old mama to cinema again in order that we could watch a lame Lunar New Year movie, i.e. 72 Tenants of Prosperity 72家租客 (abbreviated to "72 Tenants").
well, it is just another Lunar New Year movie which is fulled of senseless jokes. Still, it is considered as a great movie to watch during this festival season. Or at least you should trust the words of a sophisticated movie reviewer.
according to the old mama, the 72 Tenants is loosely based on the '70s film, The House of 72 Tenants 72家房客 (abbreviated to "House"). And House was a great movie in '70s (at least Yves Gendron said so...). It was originally a stage comedy created in Shanghai in '40s and set in that city. This explains why the old mama and I wanna watch the 72 Tenants so "coincidentally".
if you are familiar to the '70s and '80s Hong Kong films, you could actually find that there is a particular brand of comedy which is affectionately known as "mou lei tau 无厘头" in Cantonese. It is literal "make no sense" type of humor that Hui brothers (Michael Hui, Sam Hui, and Ricky Hui) made popular through their crowd-pleasing hits, especially the most classic "Aces Go Places 最佳拍档".
and 'cuz of all these elements, you will not feel doubtful when a resized poster of House has been shown at the very beginning of movie. Meanwhile, you will feel that all these are actually make sense when you are hearing one of Sam Hui's signature song from the '70s "The Private Eyes 半斤八两" (honestly the tune is one of my ringtones ++"...) while the movie was screening. Obviously the producer of 72 Tenants, Eric Tsang wants to pay homage to the '70s and '80s "mou lei tau" comedy. That said. It is not hard to identify the various trademarks of a classic "mou lei tau" comedy in 72 Tenants.
indeed, much of fun in watching 72 Tenants. Besides of the scene where Jacky Cheung sings his signature song (one of my favorite Jacky Cheung's songs too), some of the popular TVB dramatic roles can be spotted in the movie too.
nevertheless, 72 Tenants is a typical Hong Kong comedy that has one and only aim -- to bring you the joyous moment and make you feel happy during the Lunar New Year season. Thus, its slightly incoherent narrative shall be forgiven.
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