Sexy and Dangerous 2 (2000)

A new batch of streetwise women take to the screen in this name-only sequel to Billy Tang's original Sexy and Dangerous. Going by the names of Nozzle, Pepper, Mistress and Cocky, the four ladies dream of opening a bar one day. Unfortunately, their gangland lifestyles make it pretty hard to acheive their goals. Biker Nozzle (Josie Ho) falls in with a triad named Prince (Michael Tong). But he's being more than generous to her pal, Pepper (Kristy Yang). Cocky meanwhile chops up her violent father and her idiot boyfriend Log takes the blame, and Mistress inadvertedly winds up on an underground rape tape. As the four dramas happen, Prince is getting on the bad side of a fellow Hung Hing triad Brother Dragon (Tony Ho) and the results of this building rivalry aren't good.

The gangland setting with four girls ready to savage men promises much on the lobby cards. And things look up early in the piece when two of the ladies take out a sleazebag taxi driver. Ultimately, however, Sexy and Dangerous 2 delivers precious little action to entertain.

Key to losing viewer interest are amazingly long unedited conversation sequences. Shot from a single camera angle, often at a considerable distance from the chattering subjects, the scenes just drag on and on. And, being unedited, these sequences feature background distractions that would otherwise have been avoided or chopped out. As Log and Cocky walk out of a convenience store, the check-out clerk can be seen trying to catch their attention (lucky the single-take scene is dubbed!). In another the production van can be seen blocking a footpath with the driver grinning in the front seat. But that's nothing compared to the outrageous chopping knife finale, shrouded in pallid purple.

For dating the production, the script provides a handy pointer early in the piece. Two ladies can be seen chatting about buying "Mr Li's stocks"; a reference to the public offering of Internet stocks for Li Ka-shing's tom.com less than two weeks before this film hit the cinemas.

All this wouldn't bother me if the actors showed enthusiasm. But they don't, leaving little to be said for the four leads. The actress playing Cocky keeps a cheery presence and gets minimal depth with the depiction of domestic violence in her home while Josie Ho's initial character depth comes in a quick montage set to music. We know precious little about the other two ladies. The dubbing and weak supports make it very difficult to judge their acting, which is a pity because Josie Ho showed such promise in Slow Fade and Purple Storm. Tony Ho is unconvincing as a dealer; his head constantly nodding to remind us he's into the drugs business. On the upside, Sexy and Dangerous 2 certainly has an inviting title and excellent promotional artwork to get you in the door.

Sexy and Dangerous 2 painted billboard at the Dynasty Theatre. Just one of the terrific promo pics to draw in unsuspecting viewers.

Credits:

Directed by Kant Leung
Starring Josie Ho, Michael Tong, Kristy Yang, Tony Ho, Shirley Hung and Samuel Leung