Cast Member: Jordan Chan

The linear narrative and lack of real danger in the story may limit what would otherwise be a sure-fire hit.

Herman Yau’s conclusion to the story deserves its place among its contemporaries. And any film with Anthony Wong giving his all is well worth adding to your collection.

‘Kitchen’ is watchable, of course for Jordan Chan’s first-rate display, though it tends to languish in pretentiousness when a firmer hand would have been far more effective.

Director Lee Chi Ngai has crafted a film that contains some scenes of immense beauty that will stay with the discerning viewer for weeks after watching them.

It’s a pleasure to see Jordan Chan given a lead role in a major production and his cowardly cook is a delightful antithesis to ‘Chicken’ from the series that made his name.

The opening does promise a fun and breezy film before it gets bogged down in confusion, but there are moments that keep the viewer watching.

Unfortunately for the prospective viewer, the film never reaches beyond the interest of the synopsis and ends a somewhat dull piece entertainment.

The laughs can be a bit too parochial for inexperienced viewers while the sudden mood change from touching romance to typically surreal canto-humour may be too jarring for some.

An interesting premise is given a reasonable treatment by experienced director Herman Yau and well-played by a very capable cast.

‘The Shopaholics’ is a simple time waster that has a few effective moments, but meanders around until its uninspiring conclusion.

I did notice my skin peeling off as the film neared its conclusion, though on closer inspection this seems to have been what doctors call ‘The Chapman To effect’.

It may be To’s intention to slightly alienate the audience with characters stuck in limbo, without any explanations, but, if this is the case, he cannot be too surprised to learn that this is an uninvolving film.