72 Tenants of Prosperity

72 Tenants of Prosperity Synopsis: (from Wikipedia)
In 1970s Hong Kong, rapacious landlords try to evict 72 tenants but sworn brothers Ha Kung and Shek Kin help the group of 72 defeat the landlord and landlady and coincidentally rescue Pinky from a planned forced marriage. When both sworn brothers fall for Pinky and propose to her, she flips a coin heads or tails, they both cheated during the toss but Ha wins her hand in marriage.

The sworn brothers become sworn enemies and Sheks hatred fuels intense rivalry against Ha in business dealings ranging from the manufacture of plastic flowers to the selling of stinky bean curd. Even after 40 years they continue to clash and in 2010 they are in keen competition selling electronics appliances in Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mongkok, the busiest street in the city and still home to the 72 tenants.

In fiercely competitive Sai Yeung Choi Street high rents force businessmen to use every means to survive, with electronics shops employing pseudo models in sales promotion campaigns and comic shops offering foot-massage services by Lolita, etc. These ploys are minor compared with the tactics of the landlord who threatens to close down the shops unless his demands for tripled rent are met. Amidst this strife and struggle the street is hit by acid-attacks and in high spirits the 72 tenants unite and pledge to safeguard their home.

Against a background of fear and turmoil, with the old love triangle between Ha and Pinky and Shek still festering, the next generation of the Ha and Shek families generate their own love affairs: MJ-style dancer Ha Junior is fascinated by Shek's daughter who is a Japanese AV culture fan; Ha's daughter, a kung fu expert, is pursued by Shek's love-struck son, the smart shortie. Affairs of the heart yet to be resolved.


My comments:
72 Tenants of Prosperity was a surprise for me. I didn’t expect that I’d enjoy it so much. The last Lunar Year movie that was memorable enough for me was Fat Choi Spirit. The fun of this movie is that you just don’t want to blink your eyes because you never know who will pop on screen as a cameo next. Really, almost all the actors/actresses of TVB are in this movie. It’s funny to see some ‘classic’ TV characters appearing in the movie such as doctor Paul Ching Chi Mei (Lawrence Ng from Healing Hands) and Laughing Gor (Michael Tse from E.U.) and I cracked up when I saw the parodies of Infernal Affairs, The Eye and Ip Man. I enjoyed gags such as ‘林Phone’ and ‘鄧梓Phone’ and the part with Bosco Wong and Myolie Wu at the end as well.

Well, basically it’s a happy movie with a big ensemble cast (it’s so great to see Jacky Cheung and Anita Yuen to do a comedy) that was pure entertainment for me.