Reviewed by YTSL
The king is dead, and so is the Triad dramagenre! That, at any rate, is what I was inclined to think at theconclusion of this mediocre 2001 Jingle Ma helmed effort that stars EkinCheng (perhaps best known as Chan Ho Nam of the “Young and Dangerous” seriesof films) and another Y&D luminary in Karen Mok (who especially enlivenedthat series’ third installment with her portrayal of the preacher’s rebelliousdaughter). On a less dramatic note: I hereby would like tostate my opinion that that which has apparently been hawked by some piratevideo dealers as “Young and Dangerous 7” -- i.e., the next movie after“Born to Be the King” -- is absolutely not in the same league as the B.O.B.productions helmed by Andrew Lau and Raymond Yip Wai Man.
Cool is a film directed by Jingle Ma with Ekin Cheng, Karen Mok, Kin-Lung Au, Bond Chan. Original title: Gau lung bing sat. Synopsis: Dragon is determined to leave his life of crime after leaving prison but denying the temptations of the free world won't be easy.
While the world of GOODBYE MR. COOL is onewhich is as Triad infested as that of the Y&D works, the movies reallydo not have more than a few superficial similarities (if that at all). For example, while Ekin Cheng’s character in the other films was someonewho was seen rising up the Triad ranks, the one that he plays in this YeungSin Ling and Susan Chan co-scripted effort starts off in a high positionbut soon is reduced to being a physically lame man and inmate in a Thaiprison (as a result of a botched assault attempt on a powerful Thai figure),and spends most of the film trying to make a new life for himself thatis free of Triad ties, obligations and liabilities. More specifically,the individual that various people continue to respectfully call “Mr. Cool”or “Cool Dragon” after his release from prison and return to Hong Kongjust seems to be seriously as well as modestly intent on being not muchmore than an honest busboy (in his friend Hong’s Kowloon Cafe) and goodfather to a six year old boy whose mother is his ex-girlfriend (but stillmay not be his biological son).
Cool’s bid to stay straight has the support ofa friend and benefactor of sorts (who did such as see to Cool’s father’sfuneral arrangements when he was serving jail time in Thailand). Hong -- who is played by the ever watchable Lam Suet -- is himself a formerTriad, and has remained on speaking terms with a Triad “tai lo” who heand Cool used to hang out with: The now inappropriately nicknamedLong Hair (Chatman To’s character used to have long tresses but now hasa close cropped hair cut), who actually is among the substantial numberof at least middle ranking Triads who would like Cool to not only rejointhe Triads but also be their boss.As might be expected, the more senior membersof the gangster society are alternately suspicious and scornful of Cool’sdecision to wave “good bye” to their world. Two of them continueto have particular cause to feel threatened by and jealous of him. The first, an obviously despicable character known as Volcano (who is essayedby Jackie Lui), is someone who would lose such men as Long Hair and thosewho may feel greater loyalty to Long Hair than him, should Cool changehis mind and go back to his old ways. So you just know that he’sgoing to find some opportunity to create trouble for Ekin Cheng’s character. The second, a native Mandarin speaker referred to as Prince (who is portrayedby Huang Pin Yuan, AKA Wong Ban Yuen on the HKMDB), is the Triad boss whoCool’s (former) woman -- Macau Hung (who comes in the form of Karen Mok)is now a major underworld wheeler-dealer in her own right -- shacked upwith when GOODBYE MR. COOL’s hero was stuck in a Thai prison. Althoughhe doesn’t seem to be that bad a man, the way the movie was going, it seemedinevitable that he would end up going against Cool; and therein lies amajor problem with this work.Put succinctly: Plot- and character-wise,GOODBYE MR. COOL does not offer up anything innovative or new. Consequently,so much of its story and course is thoroughly predictable. Also,while the film’s first and last fights are quite good (by Triad drama standards),the ones in the middle that are shown as dance style flashback sequencesare frankly quite awful plus pretty ridiculous as well as laughably weird. All these faults pale however with the very negative characterization anddepiction of the three main females in this offering. One of them(Macau Hung’s lieutenant, Jo Jo, who is played by Stephanie Che) is givena criminally small amount of screen time. Another seems to changepersonalities from scene to scene and really only be there to complicatematters for Cool (Six year old Siu Lung’s young teacher, Ms. Mung, is essayedby Rain Li). Worst of all, Macau Hung -- who also sometimes get referredto as Helen in the English subtitles -- is too forcibly made out to bea horribly irresponsible mother, terribly immature individual and all roundnot particularly understandably problematic personality.Although GOODBYE MR. COOL was directed by JingleMa (whose “Tokyo Raiders” and “Summer Holiday” rank among my least favoriteHong Kong movies), I nursed some hope that I would enjoy viewing this offeringbecause of it having Karen Mok -- as well as a few other actors and actresseswhose work I like (notably Lam Suet) -- in its cast. The thing withMs. Mok is that, in addition to being an interesting film presence, sheseems to have been far better at picking projects than many of her equallytalented contemporaries (like, say, Wu Chien-Lien or Michelle Reis). As it turned out though, that which I think has by far the least attractivecharacter that she has portrayed turned out to be an unfortunate choiceof thirteenth Karen Mok movie for me to view as well as an altogether sub-parpiece of work that could put some people off all Triad dramas rather thanjust this one.My rating for this film: 4.5
The knock against Hong Kong thespians has always been that they are chosen primarily for their looks rather than skill. It didn’t matter if a lamp post or ape gave a more gripping performance since it would still not be hired by anyone in Hong Kong. Granted, Hollywood can also be labeled guilty in this manner but the talent pool available is undeniably larger meaning more thespians can and will be used primarily for their skill not their appearance.
Ekin Cheng has been largely vilified by many for being in the pretty boy but lousy acting category, a label that has stuck like crazy glue although he’s perhaps the most well known Hong Kong actor (still only in HK films) of the past few years due to his involvement with high-profile movies like The Storm Riders, A Man Named Hero or Legend of Zu. Now with Goodbye Mr. Cool, Ekin Cheng finally rises to the occasion with his superb turn as a former triad leader who desires to retire to a life of anonymity. Too bad the rest of the movie fails to even register a heartbeat.
The film chronicles the exploits of Cool Dragon (Ekin Cheng) who, as the movie begins, is released from prison and enters the real world once again. Before his stay in jail, Cool was one of the most highly respected leaders whose charisma and intellect drew supporters from every walk of life. However, due to his past, Cool is crippled in one leg and limps around sometimes with the help of a cane. Finally released and reformed, Cool decides that it’s time to settle down to become nothing more than any other hard-working decent citizen.
For a time this succeeds as Cool finds a job working in a small restaurant content to take orders and deliver food. Some of his former followers drop by to visit him but find he has no desire to return to his former profession. Most of them respect his decision though others, especially the remaining triad leaders, refuse to believe the truth. Wary of their tenuous position and jealous that Cool still commands the respect of their underlings they begin to scheme against him.
Things become even more complicated for Cool when he meets his long-lost son and his comely teacher. It’s only a matter of time before we expect sparks to appear but thankfully it doesn’t degenerate into frequent romps in the sack. Cool starts to bond with his son and the two begin to rely upon one another but before long the plot turns darker as Cool’s ex lover (Karen Mok) appears, now a highly respected triad leader herself. She attempts to win back Cool not only romantically but professionally. It seems she has cooked up a mega deal and wants him as her partner but due to his constant refusals she finds herself vilified by other gangsters who take the erroneous view that Cool is playing possum and truly intends to take over in some nefarious grand plot.
Goodbye Mr. Cool surprisingly works well in its quieter moments, those depicting the central characters and their conversations. Even though it takes place with underworld figures and situations there’s not much violence at all save for the rather unfortunately staged climax. Ekin Cheng spends much of the movie in a quasi-subdued state, sometimes without a hint of emotion on his visage but it fits well with Cool’s new found serenity. There are frequent flashbacks showing us his violent past that paint a much different man and here lies the film’s greatest message – that one can always change for the better. It might not exactly be a groundbreaking concept but here it’s done all the while grounded in reality and not some cockamamie epiphany where our hero switches gears for no apparent reason.
The other actors involved are functional in their limited roles although Karen Mok’s jilted lover is very one dimensional. She’s the epitome of a possessive female character and initiates some rather brutally inane schemes in order to gain back her former man. Still, her character at least has a defined arc of enlightenment, something which can’t really be said for Cool’s son or his teacher who seem to wander onto the frame just to give a chance for Cool to espouse. As a side note the child actor is quite horrendous in acting ability and blurts lines with as much emotion as a hypnotized cow. I have no problem with kids in a film but they have to really put themselves into their roles to be effective (think any of the children in Spy Kids or The Sixth Sense).
The film’s Achilles’ heel lies in its rather poor pacing that sleepwalks rather than excites. Even for a drama as this, when events occur that endanger our characters director Jingle Ma doesn’t start turning on the gas, content to let the movie idle on in neutral. Even worse, the focus on dialogue and interaction erodes to an altogether phony and staged ending that takes place on a rooftop where a violent fist fight occurs. That wouldn’t be so bad in and of itself but then the movie takes a u-turn and throws in a final sequence so haphazard that you can’t help but think both the director and screenwriter couldn’t figure out a coherent way to end it all.
This final brawl works to undermine everything that occurred in the previous 90 minutes. Cool’s character works because he’s managed to contain and control his violent tendencies using words and calm logic to think his way out of trouble. By having him resort to his old self and beat the tar out of someone shows an utter lack of respect for the material and message they were trying to portray. Goodbye Mr. Cool is one of those flawed films that is worth a look or two for those Ekin Cheng or triad film fans but its contradictory morals and snail’s pace serve to make the whole project seemed like a semi-baked cake that just does not fully satisfy.
**1/2 out of ****
2001, Hong Kong, 101 Min
Directed by Jingle Ma
Directed by Jingle Ma
Ekin Cheng: Cool Dragon
Karen Mok: Helen
Stephanie Che: JoJo
Lam Suet: Kong
Chapman To: Long Hair
Rain Li: Ms.Mung
Jackie Lui Chung-yin: Volcano
Karen Mok: Helen
Stephanie Che: JoJo
Lam Suet: Kong
Chapman To: Long Hair
Rain Li: Ms.Mung
Jackie Lui Chung-yin: Volcano
© 2001 The Galactic Pillow
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