Fantasia
Film poster
Traditional Chinese鬼馬狂想曲
Simplified Chinese鬼马狂想曲
Hanyu PinyinGuǐ Mǎ Kuáng Xiǎng Qǔ
JyutpingGwai2 Maa5 Kwong4 Seong2 Keok1
Directed byWai Ka-fai
Screenplay byWai Ka-fai
Au Kin-yee
Produced byWai Ka-fai
StarringCecilia Cheung
Sean Lau
Louis Koo
Jordan Chan
Francis Ng
Christy Chung
Charlene Choi
Gillian Chung
CinematographyHorace Wong
Ng Man-ching
Edited byMarco Mak
Music byTeddy Robin
Production
companies
Distributed byChina Star Entertainment Group
Release date
15 January 2004 (2004-01-15)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
Box officeHK$25 million

Fantasia (Chinese: 鬼馬狂想曲) is a 2004 Hong Kong comedy film produced, written and directed by Wai Ka-fai and starring Cecilia Cheung, Sean Lau, Louis Koo, Jordan Chan, Francis Ng and Christy Chung. The film is a homage to classic Hong Kong comedy films which starred the Hui Brothers, Michael Hui, Samuel Hui and Ricky Hui, particularly the 1976 film, The Private Eyes.[1][2]

Plot

In 1969 Hong Kong, private detective agency director Man (Sean Lau) and his two employees, Sam (Louis Koo) and Fugu (Jordan Chan), are investigating an adultery case, where they track their target and crashing into an antique shop, where they end up causing a lot of damage there. Man, who is greedy and miserly, forces Sam and Fugu to be held responsible for the damages, while Sam pushes all responsibility solely on Fugu. In the pile of debris, Fugu finds a lamp which was unable to turn on. At the same time, Fugu also receives a call from his aunt informing him that her cousin, Jane Lam (Christy Chung), who is a student of Stanford University studying Aerospace Technology, have gone mad due to over-studying, and is now missing. Fugu is worried to ask Man for a leave of absence. Man and Sam both took a look at the lamp, which was still unable to turn on, where Man throws the lamp out the window. At this point a sorceress named Harmy Bobo (portrayed by Cecilia Cheung, the character's name is a parody of Harry Potter) magically emerges from the lamp. Bobo arrives at Man's agency and asks the trio to each make a wish, so she can return to her world. Man and Sam both thinks Bobo is Fugu's cousin. However, as Bobo fails in her spells, the trio do not believe her to be sorceress, but she continues to help them in secret. One time in a mahjong game, Bobo's failed spells causes Man to be exposed from his cheating, and thus, he forges a rivalry with gang boss Kin (Francis Ng). Bobo's cousins, the Chopstick Sisters (Charlene Choi, Gillian Chung), also happen to be at the hands of Kin, who took them as his goddaughters.

Cast

Reception

Critical response

Andrew Saroch of Far East Films gave the film a score four out of five stars praising the performance by the cast and calls the film "a comedy with so much energy and buoyant spirit."[2] Love HK Film also praised the performance by the cast and director Wai Ka-fai's care for referencing defining characteristics of classic Cantonese films but notes how audiences who do not get the referential jokes would not enjoy the film.[1] HK Film Net gave the film a positive review referring the film as "entertaining" and "smart", and calls it "an outstanding comedy".[3]

Box office

The film grossed HK$25,093,425 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run.

References

  1. 1 2 "Fantasia (2004) - LoveHKFilm.com".
  2. 1 2 "Far East Films - Reviews - Fantasia". Archived from the original on 25 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Fantasia - Hong Kong Film Net".
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