Love Undercover


Reviewed by: koalabear

November 22, 2004

Rating: four

Director:
Joe Ma

Cast:
Miriam Yeung - L.K.Fong/Kuen
Daniel Wu - Hoi Man Au
Raymond Wong - Hung (officer)
Clarie Yu - Loletta (ex of Hoi)
Hui Shiu-hung - Officer Chung
Wyman Wong - officer, friend of Fong
Sammy Leung - officer and also friend of Fong
Iris Wong - officer

This might have been the first "silly Honkie movie" that won me over. When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I was told that the Hong Kong film production business was poor. Then Infernal Affairs came along and things started to look up. One genre which remained popular though was the romantic comedy. Hong Kong produces this genre in mass quantities and for the most part they are appalling, tacky, slapstick and unsophisticated. "Love Undercover" is an exception ....

In a nutshell this is a very silly movie but endearingly sweet and, despite its predictability, the word that comes to mind is "touching".

Fong Lee Kuen (played by Miriam Yeung) entered Police Training School in honour of her father who apparently lost his life in the line of duty. Unfortunately for Ah Kuen (which apparently is the familiar of her name), she has few, if any, police skills to enable her to be a police officer.

After graduating, her first assignment is to LPD (Lost Property Department). The role is tedious to say the least and the tedium is only interrupted by watching mosquitos being blasted by a mosquito zapper and gazing longingly at Officer Hung (Raymond Wong), who presumably is a Hong Kong Hunk although he leaves me a bit cold.

One day, Kuen's moment in the sun arrives when an undercover surveillance operation needs the services of an officer who has a somewhat stupid face, isn't instantly recognisable as a policeman and has no family ties ........ "You look faithful and quite stupid enough to carry out this mission." Kuen disguises herself as a waitress for a very simple task. Try to sneak a microphone hidden in a bottle of ketchup onto the table where Hoi Man Au (Daniel Wu) is sitting. Hoi is the son of a former triad leader. For reasons known only to them, the police suspect that Hoi has been engaged in illegal activities, using legitimate businesses as a front. Don't ask me why they would think this is.

On their first encounter, Kuen keeps placing a bugged ketchup bottle on the table near Hoi. This is unfortunate for a number of reasons. Apart from not enabling the squad to pick up any information, the bottle is then used to beat an unfortunate Kuen by one of Hoi's fiery ex-girlfriends who is outraged that he has the gall to break up with her.

Although initially dismissive of the awkward Kuen, Hoi is clearly a kind-hearted individual and regretful that he has caused her to become injured on his account. In helping her up, he says sweetly: "You are still the prettiest" and asks curiously over her police headset which she explains to him is her hearing aid which she has had to wear since her grandmother hit her as a child and caused her to become deaf.

Clearly her handicap touches him and he tells her whimsically that he will come back the next day to find her. The mutual attraction that develops between the mismatched pair causes no end of trouble and comedy for everyone concerned. Kuen's bosses see an opportunity and she should leverage off Hoi's attraction to find out more information.

Miriam Yeung is funny in this role. You know how everyone likes Sammi and says Miriam is the new Sammi Cheng? Well I don't like Sammi at all - but I like Miriam. Admittedly, her film "Dummy Mommy Without A Baby (2001)" has got to be one of the most god-awful boring films I have ever had the misfortune to sit through - in fact I didn't, and have never finished that movie. I am told that it was a breakthrough role for Miriam as she finally had the opportunity to play a romantic lead and not just be goofy girl.

The Miriam / Daniel combination is extremely endearing and the two of them have a very sweet chemistry. You can honestly believe that Hoi is genuniely drawn to the flaky, awkward Keun and I love watching the byplay of expressions on his face when he is around Keun. It varies from tenderness, amusement, bemusement and hurt.

During the movie, Hoi attempts to befriend and look after Kuen. You can see that he is touched by her sweetnes but at the same time, Kuen's superiors ask her to play along with the friendship and manipulate the situation and Hoi's feelings for her to collect information. Unfortunately, the more time Kuen spends with Hoi, the more she sees that he is far too honest, kind and genuine to be involved in triad activities. In fact, you have to wonder how on earth the police got it soooooooooooooo wrong. However, therein lies the fun as the assignment becomes more complicated as Kuen is forced to pretend that her colleagues are family members in a number of hysterically funny scenes that should have been painful but were, in fact, hilarious.

Watch out for the first one where Hoi shows up at her door, the cops are setting up the room and then giggle as the tension relaxes as Keun introduces her boss as her dad. Also keep an eye out later on when a police shield is passed off as a fruit basket. Nonetheless, for Keun, it is a strain as both parties begin to fall in love with one another Kuen feels increasingly guilty.

One of my favourite things in this movie is Miriam's song "Brave" which she sings beautifully. Go out and buy it - it's a fabulous song and has wonderful lyrics.

Another favourite thing is Daniel Wu who is understatedly warm and never overacts in this movie. His character is overwhelmingly sympathetic and certainly this Koala would love to have someone like Hoi looking out for her.

The scene after the "break-up" where Hoi puts a cork in is mouth to practice speaking Cantanese better for Kuen is very sweet and touching. I also love the scene when Kuen tries to "seduce" Hoi into not going to seek revenge for his father's injuries. Kuen is a bit stupid in this scene - I find it hard to believe that she would be quite so bashful / shy / awkward in a love scene but I have to say that it's odd to say that a scene in a comedy film is sexy, but this one definitely is.

Kuen's pulling off his clothes, he's looking at her quizzically but very happy to accede and his attempts to hold and kiss her are very endearing. The scene when she screws up her face is quite implausible and that's not because Daniel Wu is sooooo attractive ;)

PS: So you get a contrasting view, here was my brother's comment on the movie:

Was cute and sweet and a little on the pointless side. I didn't really like the hick, I found her sort of irritating.. was watchable, but didn't grab me that much. 6.5 out of 10

PPS: I give it such a high-rating because I enjoyed it so much and the chemistry between the leads was so cute.


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