Other than my oft-repeated mantra, "Johnnie To is God." He has squeezed good performances out of Leon Lai and Andy Lau, and has now done the unthinkable: made a great movie starring none other than Ekin Cheng.

What's so great about the movie is hard to pinpoint. It's not screamingly hilarious, heart-stoppingly exciting, or too ruthlessly satirical; instead, its appeal lies in the blazingly fast-paced combination of a number of elements. The hospital scenes are wildly over-the-top, with great support work from Hui Siu-Hung and Lam Suet, who have both carved out quite a niche for themselves under Johnnie To. The gags, of course, lose something in translation, but much of the humor is physical, or comes from the tone rather than the content. The long final rescue scene is Johnnie To's most obviously expensive work since Lifeline; while other recent productions have been typically slick but noticeably pared-down, the climax of Help! features wrecked vehicles, artificial rain, and dozens of extra. The gags are mixed with somewhat more earnest and exciting moments. Most importantly, the pace rarely slows; chances are, if you don't like what you're seeing, you'll soon be seeing something else.

The leads, in all honesty, do little of note. Cecilia Cheung is surprisingly restrained, showing neither her best (very convincing breakdowns in Fly Me To Polaris) or worst (unbearable screeching and clinging in Legend of Speed.) sides. Jordan Chan occasionally goes a bit over the top, as he is wont to do, but is never allowed to do so for long enough for it to become grating. Ekin is simply not given enough rope to hang himself with.

But Help! isn't about star-making performances; it's about the overall look, feel, and, despite the exagerrated cynicism and heartlessness on display, the spirit of cooperation. Although I'm hoping To will cap 2000 off with another brilliant thriller, Help! is, in my opinion, the most satisfying film of 2000 so far.l