Cast Member: Ricky Hui

Alongside this familiar narrative is the constantly disarming duo of Samuel Hui and Karl Maka and they of course continue to show great comic timing and interplay in the familiar roles of Sam and Kodijack.

Despite the fact that ‘Challenge Of The Masters’ hasn’t aged as well as some of Liu Chia-Liang’s other notable works, there’s undoubtedly much on offer for genre fans and the casual cinema-goer.

Hui delivers an always watchable and occasionally hilarious production that works on a number of different levels.

Comic maestro Michael Hui scores a resounding hit with this fast-paced combination of mirth and mystery.

The main problem of the film is the lack of development for the romance; the actual feelings between the two lacks genuine heart and therefore undermines any chemistry.

Ricky Hui therefore ensures that this is entertaining despite its very unpredictable nature making it an acquired taste.

Michael Hui uses moments of slapstick, social conscience and satire in conjunction with his flawless timing.

As an introduction to the Hui brothers or Hong Kong comedy in general, this is a fine starting point.

It’s somewhat disappointing to see a comedian of Michael Hui’s pedigree reverting to, what is essentially, a reworking of the classic Jack Lemmon/Tony Curtis/Marilyn Monroe comedy ‘Some Like It Hot’.

There’s weaknesses in some of the plot twists, but there’s also good action, fine performances and the kind of bold visual statements that linger in the mind.

Though it’s not in the same league as the Michael Hui hits it tries to emulate, ‘Money Crazy’ is still reasonably entertaining and certainly better than Woo’s other ventures into the genre.

Thrown together rather than constructed, this is a production where the director has little idea how to generate organic laughs from situations and must therefore shoe-horn them in.