Running Out of Time 2 (2001)
Reviewed by: magic-8 on 2002-03-22
Summary: Running Out of Ideas
Johnnie To is running out of ideas as evidenced by "Running Out of Time 2." The sequel also stars Lau Ching Wan. Sporting the 'do from "La Brassiere," Lau squares off against Ekin Cheng, who tries the ushaven, scruffy look. If you've seen "Running Out of Time," then you'll notice that the sequel is a quick way to cash out. Cheng plays Lau's foil in ROOT2. The two leads are mildly engaging, using a script written en masse. You'd think that a script by committee would have one or two good things to show for it, but that is not the case. In the first film "Running Out of Time," there was a playful sense of cat and mouse between Lau and Andy Lau. In ROOT2, the playful mood is replaced by the characters' lack of motivation to do anything but annoy each other for the entire film. Humor seemed to be replaced with whining.

To tries to use his wits to cover up the lack of a script, while Raymond Wong's music for the sequel just didn't fit. In ROOT, Andy Lau's terminally ill character is matched by the melancholy of the musical score. In ROOT2, the music is out of place, clashing against what is happening on screen. What a mess. To's direction is technically efficient and too smart and cold, almost like he's detached and disinterested. The same locations from ROOT are featured in ROOT2, giving it a "why even bother" look. What was inventive in the first film is tired and lame in the sequel. ROOT2 limps along to what seems an interminable 90+ minutes.

There are two glimmers of hope within ROOT2, the first is Lam Suet, who steals all of the scenes that he's in and becomes more memorable than any of the male leads. The second ray of sunshine is from Kelly Lin. To my delight and utter surprise, Lin outshines the rest of the cast in a minor and supporting role. Both Lin and Suet excel, but not enough to save this film.