Mr Wai-Go (1998)

Two stories running as opposites in parallel. First up is Victor (Eric Tsang) AKA Viagra. Like the other bored and impotent would-be lechers in his town, his night-time thrills come from eavesdropping on the groans of slinky new arrival Bobo (Angie Cheung filmed to full effect by director Aman Cheung) and her lover. A fun death scene pops by and Bobo becomes a widow receiving smutful phone calls from Victor. Quickly Bobo becomes Victor's Viagra - a kinky call to Bobo prepares him for his horrid wife.

Working it the other way, the SAR's leading male porn star Chiu (Anthony Wong) gets performance anxiety when contracted to star alongside tattooed Japanese AV porn star Susie Bomb. Worried that his famed equipment won't rise to the occasion on the international XXX circuit, he seeks out the infamous blue pills. The problem, you see, is that Chiu isn't particularly turned on by his co-stars - he's only truly fired-up by his wife Tenie (Yuen King-tan at her warmest). Cutting this short to avoid spoilers, may I add that there's a lovely side story here about Chiu's Dad, his blind Mum (Helena Law), a bottle of Viagra and PR Girl Mandy (Pinky Cheung).

It's a super-sweet sex comedy. Aman Chang makes things so cheap look so beautiful on screen - think Love and Sex of the Eastern Hollywood, Tricky King, Sex & Zen III, and even moments of Raped by an Angel II. This is big-screen stuff. And there're no dud actors here either ñ all the elderly folk and side players are perfect, not least the leads. The flaws stand out, but I was blinkered by the whole. I had no idea an HK cinema Viagra quickie could be this good.

The Dynasty Theatre's street level painted billboard for Mr Wai-Go.

Credits:

Directed by Aman Chang
Produced by Wong Jing
Starring Eric Tsang Chi-wai, Anthony Wong Chow-sang, Pinky Cheung Man-chi, Angie Cheung Wai-yi, Yuen King-tan, Helena Law Lan and Lee Siu-kay