Stephen Chow could have arguably one of the front runners of Asian comedy at one point. I’m going to see if any of good recent stuff has even been released in the US. No not really. He pretty much disappeared after Kung Fu Hustle.
Alls Well was back before his real western breakthrough, at a time when likely this wasn’t distributed much in the US beyond Asian stores. It also exemplifies the style of some Hong Kong comedies of the 80s and 90s in its high energy and completely off the wall delivery and style.
The story is a somewhat ethereal love woe thing involving Chow, a seemingly gay or maybe just effeminate guy, and a third older married man whose relationship is dry after 14 years. They all face tumultuous difficulties in their relationships. In Chow’s case falling out of a window and hurting his brain in a way that makes him act bizarre. The older guy has a mistress that’s discovered, the gay guy needs to tap into masculine energy.
These are the stories but they’re all loose to put it mildly. It’s a ridiculous romp of shenanigans, physical humor, deception and differing values. People make mistakes, they make bizarre judgement calls, all sorts of shit goes on. And that’s just how it is.
The subtitles were certainly all over the place and made me think about the rule of the English language. We say “I have to” and not “I’ve to”. Why? I’ve is I have. Why don’t we say that? Anyways that sorta shit abounds in these quite entertaining subtitles.
I’d say the lack of a story is a slight misstep and the comedy is all one tone as the detractors in this movie. It doesn’t hurt it too much but it just keeps it in a certain realm. I recommend Wheels on Meals for grade A, this is like grade B-. So you know; 3 stars.
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