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真味小和尚 (2000)
The Marvellous Cook


Reviewed by: Inner Strength
Date: 06/19/2002
Summary: Average

[The Marvellous Cook]

As suggested by the English title, this is another food comedy. Now although cookery comedies are far from new in Hong Kong, or usually very funny, this one is different. Surprisingly for a Chinese New Year comedy it is not far fetched with ridiculous jokes and no story, because this takes a serious insight into family life and is more of a light drama than anything.

The film is an insight to three main characters who hear about a cooking contest to promote a big cooperation which has set up the biggest Chinese cookery website. Each character is built up well and by the end you do feel that you know each one personally. The film shows the difference in cooking styles from each of their own personal lifestyles, one of which is a street vendor/performer (like the girl in the more recent Shaolin Soccer), one is an owner of the biggest and best restaurants in Hong Kong, and other is an owner of a small restaurant in a province just outside of Hong Kong (I thought at first it might be Lamma, but maybe not). Then there is the street kid, who befriends each of the contestants in different ways, really so he can just get free food, but he knows a lot about cooking and thinks he is actually better than them all put together.

The film in all honesty though as it sounds is in fact dull, and unfortunately pretty boring. It’s one of the better New Year type releases in HK over the last few years, but not much to keep you entertained over the season! I actually enjoyed this one much more when it was released, but watching it again now has pulled my opinion down.

If you like light dramas though, then give it a chance, but don’t expect comedy as it’s not really like that at all.

[2.5/5]