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My Lucky Stars (Hong Kong Legends)
Muscles and Ricky (Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao) are cops chasing a gang of
diamond thieves led by Lam Ching Ying. It is decided that the only way
to do this is to employ the services of some lovable criminals. Kidstuff
(Sammo Hung) and the Lucky Stars (Richard Ng, Eric Tsang, Charlie Chin,
Stanley Fung) turn up to lend a hand.
For
most Kung Fu fans, there is something special about the few films in
which Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao share the screen. However,
in the case of ‘My Lucky Stars’, there is some false advertising in
effect, because for the most part this movie belongs to the ‘Lucky
Stars’, a gang of comedians who fail to amuse.
The
film kicks off with some promising action. Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao
chase Lam Ching Ying through Hong Kong and into a theme park. There is a
quick burst of fighting, and it’s easy to fool yourself into thinking
that we are in for a treat. We then hand over to Sammo Hung, and just as
things seem to be heading in the right direction, the Lucky Stars turn
up and the plot grinds to a halt, wallowing in a sticky mess of forced
and desperate comedy.
Finally, after an eternity, there is some decent action. Jackie finally
resurfaces, and chases the bad guys through a spooky funhouse. It’s
reminiscent of Sammo’s comedy horror output, but with a modern day
setting. The climax of the film is a nice chunk of kung fu action, with
Dick Wei showing up for a rumble, and Sibelle facing off against Michiko
Nishiwaki, but the fight against Lam Ching Ying that we have waited for
lasts seconds.
My
Lucky stars certainly isn’t as good as it’s sequel, ‘Twinkle Twinkle
Lucky Stars’, which was average at best, and is nothing more than a
plotless ‘comedy’ book-ended by some half decent Kung Fu action. The
action scenes in ‘My Lucky Stars’ are worth checking out, but to claim
that this is a Chan/Biao/Hung movie is simply a lie. For the 20 minutes
the trio are on screen, it’s fun, but the antics of the Lucky Stars are
irritating rather than funny, and the movie is well below the high
standards that Sammo Hung usually sets.
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