Love Generation Hong Kong (1998)

In 1992, Maggie (Lau) parts with her boyfriend Bill Kay (Lai). She feels he'll succeed in life without her, and should their paths cross again in the future, it is predestined. Sure enough, it happens. Five years down the track, Bill is hitting it big in the business world, with his best mate's sister Moon (Lee Ann) as his slightly love-struck personal assistant and an idol named Joey (Hsu Chi) as his ditzy girlfriend. In Japan, clinching some deal, Bill bumps into Maggie, who's about to marry an HK triad boss by the name of... Peace. The result is, on their return to HK, Leon finding himself torn between the women in his life. Will it be Maggie - perhaps his true love, the somewhat distant Moon, or Joey?

As far as this type of movie goes, it's not too bad. It certainly has it's good points. Mark Cheng and Carina Lau put in some nice little scenes, as do Leon's other two ladies. Lee Ann has a calm presence, and it will be interesting to see what she can do once her Cantonese improves. Leon, though not reaching the heights of 'Comrades...' and 'Killing Me Tenderly', seems to have got right into his role. I particularly enjoyed the speculation that he was responsible for the Asian economic crisis.

Despite that, the weaknesses dragged it down. Wong Jing can make terrific movies and he's prepared a nice little story in this film, but sometimes his goofy skits just don't need a place in a film like this. At times, sloppy edits didn't help either. Also, there are some dialogues regarding AIDS, lesbians and coloured people which did not need to be thrown in.

Love Generation Hong Kong billboard at Mongkok's Empire Theatre.

Credits:

Written, produced and directed by Wong Jing
Starring Leon Lai Ming, Carina Lau, Lee Ann d'Alexandry d'Orengiani, Hsu Chi, Mark Cheng, Fast Beat, Slow Beat and two airports