Best movie of this year hands down!

Memorable, crazy movie

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

I am a new fan of Sammo Kam-Bo Hung. So any movie I find him in, I watch. I love his comedic escapades the best. I especially adore anything in which he appears that includes Jackie Chan and others from their drama school. I have not seen the first movie in this franchise, but have it on my list to watch. My Lucky Stars is a great ensemble movie. It gives enough time to each character to either endear him or make you wish something awful happened to him. These men are Criminal Specialists, perhaps not the brightest Criminal Specialists, but they manage to keep one step ahead of the law - for the most part. Watching Kidstuff/Fastbuck and the others interact is like a family reunion. They joke and harass each other like brothers. When times gets tough, they are there for each other. Even if it's reluctantly, as they do with Muscles (Jackie Chan), who was once like them but became a cop. The only thing I didn't like was Kidstuff wearing the yellow sweatsuit. He looks like Pikachu. An ass kicking Pikachu, but Pikachu nonetheless. There seems to be someone in an all yellow outfit at some point in any movie I've seen in which both Jackie and Sammo appear. I wonder if it's an inside joke. If you like realistic looking fight scenes, comedy and camaraderie, this is a good movie to watch. I give it an 8 because everything could be improved in every movie I've seen. Cannot wait to find Lucky Stars 2 to see what other shenanigans this group encounters.

My Lucky Stars is one of Sammo Hung's production featuring the three dragons - Sammo, Jackie, and Biao. Jackie Chan had near cult following in Japan by the time this movie was made. The movie took advantage of location shooting in Japan to appeal to its audiences, and add a touch of international flavor. His popularity must have sparked other projects that were done with collaboration between Hong Kong and the Japanese movie industries. For instance, the amusement park used for location shooting is the same amusement park (Fujikyu Highland) used for the shooting of Peacock King that also starred Yuen Biao.Muscles (Jackie Chan) and Ricky (Biao Yuen) are under cover HK cops working in Japan to capture one of their colleagues who've gone bad. They are faced with ninjas at the amusement park that prevents them from capturing the cop. Fastbuck (Sammo Hung) is a convict, but he's recruited also to bring back the cop who stole $100M. This movie stars almost the same cast as Winners and Sinners that was also produced by Sammo. The atmosphere of the story is almost identical too. Both featuring Sammo as an ex- con. They are so similar that it's hard to tell which movie is which at some point. The story goes nowhere until the last where there's massive amounts of hand to hand combat. This is also same as the Winners and Sinners. The story is made around the talents of these five stars, and isn't particularly fresh approach compared to other HK movies of that time. Similar action has already been seen on other Jackie Chan movies. Average HK movie that's mostly comedy, and some good actions sprinkled in between.

First of all this is supposed to mainly be a comedy but I personally didn't find it that funny as I found the gags were quite cheap shallow. The characters themselves were just about humorous enough to keep the film bearable during the middle parts, as almost absolutely nothing happens. Heck, you don't even Jackie Chan for about 40 minutes.However, I have given this a 7 because of the fight/action scenes, as the choreography and fight direction is top notch, as you would expect from the personnel involved. The film starts off with one that follows a great car chase as well, it's just that unfortunately, you have to wait till the end for the other major ones. So if you're a fan of Jackie and Sammo's films then it's definitely worth a watch, but don't expect anything spectacular.

For fans of Jackie Chan's and Sammo Hung's other work together (Project A, Mr Nice Guy etc.) this is a step down in terms of sheer martial artistry. Aside from a good opening sequence in a fairground and the last twenty or so minutes, the rest of the film is Chan-less and situation-based comedy springing from the main band of failed crooks. Sammo is the leader of a ragtag bunch heading to Japan for reasons that really only become clear towards the end. Along the way though, there is some rich comedy mined from both the collection of characters (including a womaniser, a wannabe telekesisist - is this a word? - and a chubby dimwit whose loyalty literally knows no bounds.) A couple of the routines are a bit trying - a scene with a female assistant investigator and a faked robbery is too long and obvious - but generally it is quite charming and sweet. One routine in a Japanese restaurant is priceless, the gag built up well between the different characters and paying off beautifully. All in all, it moves along at a fair pace and is so gently and confidently performed that it's an enjoyable way to spend ninety minutes. A bit more Chan, a bit more action and a tighter story would have made it more memorable, but if you like the genre, this is better than a lot of the similar films. And, perhaps because of when it was made and presumably to boost Hung's profile, JC plays the same character as in the Police Story films. (Just a tidbit for the hardcore geeks out there...) Worth a rent if not a purchase.