Tom, Dick and Hairy (1993)
Reviewed by: kachun on 1999-12-09
Excellent romantic comedy from the two Tony Leungs. The two Tonys and Cheng Dan Shui are roommates. Tony Leung Chiu Wai is Tom, who is planning to get married to a bossy, and always busy Joyce. Tony Leung Kar Fai is Dick, a tour guide for Japanese visitors who can never stay with the same girl for long. Hairy (Cheng Dan) has dates that are almost as disastrous as those of Woody Allen's in _Play It Again Sam_, and the person that he does manage to bring home--well let's just say his choice manages to surprise his roommates. Ann Bridgewater plays Cat, a woman that Tom meets at an escort service during one of the times when he feels his relationship with Joyce is not satisfactory. Finally Athena Chu Yan rounds out the cast as Tom's younger sister who has returned from school in the US to stay with her brother. There are storylines that involve each of the main characters, but they all deal with the problems of romantic relationships. The story and characters are handled deftly, making this one of the best romantic comedies to come out recently anywhere. There are many little things that work well and are sometimes hilariously funny: Dick makes additional money by hiring out his Japanese tourists as movie extras; Hairy, who is actually called Giorgio in the movie ("Hairy" is chosen to complete the pun in the title), tries to teach himself English but ends up speaking in a language that neither of his roommates can understand. The movie's main theme, which deals with finding the perfect person in a relationship, is not new, but it is presented in a very refreshing way. The ending is predictable in some ways, but appropriate. There is however an exuberance (punctuated by the song "Ja-a-ambo" sung in the middle of the film) that is often lacking in many movies today, but which makes _Tom, Dick, & Hairy_ irresistible. It's a movie that's definitely worth checking out.
Reviewer Score: 8