1990 was a busy year for Stephen Chiau, with him being involved in about a dozen movies. This year also marks the first time he found what proved to be a winning formula for his films with All for the Winner. From that point forth, this new Stephen Chiau persona and signature comedy style he first showed in AFTW pretty much set the direction for all his future hits. I've gotten so used to expecting him to play that same persona that whenever I watch an older movie of his, it doesn't even "feel" like a Stephen Chiau movie...

Such is the case with Curry and Pepper, a buddy cop action comedy starring Jacky Cheung as Curry, and Stephen as his police partner (and roommate) Pepper. Set against a jazzy musical score, the movie follows the laid-back banter and cool action of these two inspectors as they roam the streets of HK arresting small-time hustlers and paying special attention to the ladies. One lady in particular, a reporter curiously named "High Mimi" has them pulling out all the stops (and who can blame them, when the lady in question is played by the lovely Ann Bridgewater). Between romancing Mimi, arguing with each other, arresting some crooked gwailos and chain-smoking cigarettes, the movie strolls alongs without any undue haste, until a main plot begins to crystalize. This main plot gets introduced in the form of a very young-looking Eric Tsang who plays an informer who tips off our heroes about a gang of evil weapons smugglers. Soon the bullets fly, some characters die, and it's up to Curry and Pepper to save the day. The big action showdown at the end is nothing out of the ordinary, except that it's not the kind of thing you expect to be see in a Stephen Chiau movie, at least not when it's beiung played straight. But then again, this isn't really a Stephen Chiau movie...

On the whole, the movie is nothing special, but good enough for some 90 minutes of mindless fun. I'd give it a marginal recommendation.