The Doctor in Spite of Himself (1999)This film is quite unlike anything I've seen in a long time. I have no idea of the origins of the screenplay, but The Doctor in Spite of Himself plays out like a theatre production. In many ways, this movie gives the same amateur-theatrics feeling as the stage play adaptation I Have a Date With Spring (1994). Consistently over the top, the acting in Doctor is a refreshing change and something fresh for the HK cinescape. Cheung Tat-ming is the doctor of the title. Well, actually he's just a drunken woodcutter inadvertently made out to be a medic by his wife (Ada Choi). The circumstance comes about after a daughter of a rich man becomes mysteriously mute before she's due to wed horrid playboy Harm Fung (Simon Loui playing it totally vile). Eager to get her wed and gain a healthy dowry, the father seeks out a doctor to get his daughter weddable again. Cheung Tat-ming, now Miracle Doctor Tien Chi, is drafted into this oddball situation which steadily gets more and more farcical as the wordy script progresses. As costume comedy, it boils down to more than just a witty script - the acting is notably overblown and not movie-like. Unfortunately, this makes Doctor quite tedious to watch at times. Still, it's something novel to watch and, though I didn't find it overly amusing, it drew some healthy laughter from the audience for a change. |
Credits: Directed by Roger Hau |
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