Men in Pain

Chinese Title: 男人之苦
Cantonese Name: Nam Yan Ji Fu
Number of Episodes: 21

Main Cast:
Damian Lau as Hong Tin Yam
Louisa So as Wong Dak Kiu
Ron Ng as Hong Sai Hei
Toby Leung as Go Fun

Supporting Cast:
Rebecca Chan as Wong Dak Lan
Florence Kwok as Wong Dak Wai
Johnson Lee as Rex Kong
Lee Sing Cheung as Lee Jun Chi
Wu Feng as Wong Kai Cheung
Akina Hong as Lily Au
Rocky Cheng as Sek Huk Long (Rocky)

Theme song: Instrumental
Subtheme by: Ron Ng

Favourite relationship: Dak Lan, Dak Kiu and Dak Wai (Rebecca, Louisa and Florence - sisters)
Favourite character: Dak Kiu and Dak Lan (Louisa and Rebecca)
Favourite pairing: Dak Wai and Rex (Florence and Johnson)
Best Actress: Louisa So
Best Actor: Damian Lau
Best Supporting: Rebecca Chan/Florence Kwok
Most Improvement: Ron Ng
Who Looks Good: Louisa So and Ron Ng

Summary: (I'll use the names of the actors/actresses instead of the names of the characters)

From a woman’s perspective, it’s hard being a woman and it is even harder to feel the pain of men. From a man’s perspective, what’s so hard about being a woman, and why can’t people understand the pressures faced by men?

"Men in Pain" talks about the various pressures faced by men of different generations. Damian is the head of the family and has a lot of responsibilities not only at home, but also at home. Due to all the pressure, Damian becomes a very selfish person. His son Ron on the other hand, is an optimistic person, who takes things easy.

Damian realizes that he has some ‘problems’ in the bedroom. Instead of letting his wife Louisa know, he goes to his ‘friend’ Akina to ‘test’ his little theory. He even refuses to consult a doctor due to his big ego. Even after Louisa finds out about his ‘affair’, he refuses to tell her about his problem. This causes her to believe that he was cheating on her and hence demands a divorce.

Damian is then chased out of his apartment and moves to the apartment downstairs that is owned by Rebecca, Louisa’s older sister. Rebecca constantly finds trouble and criticizes Damian, and hence makes matters worse between him and Louisa. Rebecca often criticizes her husband as well, leaving her husband feeling dreadful.

Florence is Louisa’s younger sister and doesn’t believe in marriage. However, she soon falls in love with Damian’s boss, Johnson. Will he be able to change her opinion of marriage?

Ron meets Toby and falls in love with her. They spend the night together, and to their horror, Toby finds herself pregnant with Ron’s child. Toby’s family is furious when they find out, and blames Damian for not teaching Ron properly, hence causing Toby’s pregnancy. However, they have no choice but to accept Ron for the good of their grandchild. They get married hastily, and Toby soon finds herself stressed out as she has to manage her limited time between going to school and caring for the child inside her. She soon tires herself out…

One morning, seven months into the pregnancy, Damian advises Toby to eat breakfast before going to school. She refuses, insisting that she was running late. Damian insists and grabs her arm to prevent her from leaving. After some pushing and pulling, Ron comes out of the room and Toby starts having contractions. Toby is sent to the hospital and gives birth to a premature baby. Before long, both families blame Damian for the early birth. Without everybody’s knowing, Damian secretly buys custom-made diapers and a baby crib for his grandchild, prays at the temple for him, decides on a name for him and even disinfects the whole apartment. Despite all that he did, Toby refuses to move back in and decides to stay with her family instead.

Script:
Interesting script, with humorous bits here and there.

Character/Performance:
Hong Tin Yam
Tin Yam faces a lot of pressure from work and at home. Things take a twist for the worse when Sai Hei gets Go Fun pregnant. Faced with the extra pressure of his in-laws and an impending divorce with Dak Kiu, Damian learns to take things a little easier and look at matters from a different perspective.

Damian Lau as Hong Tin Yam
This is a very different role Damian plays. He is not the evil master in World's Finest, the insane husband in Hard Fate, nor is he the calm resourceful businessman in Drive Of Life or The Awakening Story. Initially I couldn’t get used to his ‘weird’ look in here, but subsequently I grew to enjoy his character, and understand why he behaves in that funny way of his.

Hong Sai Hei
Sai Hei starts off as an immature and impulsive character. However, his personality changes when he becomes a father and husband. Sai Hei matures a lot and learns how to care for his family and those around him. When Go Fun receives her scholarship, he decides not to hinder her studies and that he would take care of the baby by himself until she returns. He writes a ‘future diary’ for her, telling her about the baby’s first word, and how her birthday would be celebrated in the future…

Ron Ng as Hong Sai Hei
His character is, as most of his characters are, impulsive and immature. However, as the series progress, he matures so much and naturally that you can’t help but feel that Ron’s acting has improved. His father-son chemistry with Damian was also commendable.

Wong Dak Kiu
The wife of Tin Yam and stepmother of Sai Hei, Dak Kiu is naïve but outgoing and very willing to help others. She cares and teaches all without discrimination. She treats her students with friendliness and earnest sincerity, and always places the well-being of others before herself. She is unselfish and treats Sai Hei as her own. Speaking whatever that is on her mind, Dak Kiu is straightforward and does not enjoy beating around the bush.

Louisa So as Dak Kiu
This is a different Louisa you would see. She isn’t the cool Ruby in Triumph In The Skies, nor is she the intelligent and calm Susan in The Awakening Story. I felt she was convincing as the naïve Dak Kiu, so unlike her usual cool, resourceful and calm characters. Her chemistry with Damian is surprisingly nice, and she delivers a great performance as usual.

Go Fun
Academically inclined, Go Fun is a high academic scholar in college. She is smart and easy going, and has the willpower to achieve what she wants. Independent but stubborn, Go Fun is not afraid of hard work, and is willing to sacrifice all for love, placing her loved one as her number one priority. When she receives the ‘future diary’ Sai Hei wrote for her, telling her about the baby’s first word, and how her birthday would be celebrated in the future, she is very moved. Coupled with her strong love for him, she is willing to give up her scholarship to stay with him.

Toby Leung as Go Fun
Men in Pain was Toby’s first series, and I felt her performance was acceptable. However, I felt she did not look the role. From certain angles, she looks pretty old, which was unsuitable for her character since Go Fun was young and innocent. Not bad for a newcomer nonetheless, but she still has room for much improvement.

Supporting Cast:
Wong Dak Lan
A dermatologist and oldest of the sisters, Dak Lan is a very career- oriented woman. Strict, independent and self-centered, she makes all the decisions regardless of others. Very prejudiced against men, Dak Lan believes that all men are deceitful and will either cheat or lie, hence she looks down on her husband. However, when her husband is through with putting up with her, she is shocked and goes into a state of instability. It is then that she realizes how much her husband means to her.

Rebecca Chan as Dak Lan
As always, a great performance from Rebecca! Her portrayal of a career-oriented woman prejudiced against men was great, and she delivers her lines naturally with a touch of humor.

Wong Dak Wai
As a beautician, Dak Wai strives to look beautiful and is sentimental. She acts foolishly and does not restrain herself in the presence of men. She highly opposes the theory of “men are superior to women”, and believes that women can achieve or do anything they want, without the help of men. The youngest of the sisters, Dak Wai pursues a fast-paced lifestyle and longs for a romantic relationship. However, she does not believe in marriage, for she has seen the different marriages around her fail. When she begins dating Rex, he wants to get married, but he respects her decision of not wanting to marry, which makes her very happy.

Florence Kwok as Dak Wai
Good performance from Florence, though I thought she could do with a nicer hairstyle. She was humorous and had nice chemistry with her costars.

Chemistry:
Rebecca, Louisa and Florence
They were funny together as sisters, and had great chemistry. Not surprising though, since all three are great actresses.

Damian and Louisa
Second series together ever since their pair up in The Awakening Story, so I was glad that in Men in Pain, they ended up together, since they went their separate ways in the former. Though they looked nicer and more compatible in the former series, their pairing in the latter series was enjoyable as well.

Ron and Toby
This is Toby’s first series, so I shan’t be too harsh on her. Her chemistry with Ron was acceptable, and I liked how Sai Hei wrote a ‘future diary’ for Go Fun, so sweet!

Plus Points:
1. The cast delivered a good performance overall.
2. It is a different Damian, Louisa and Ron we see, as their characters in Men in Pain are unlike their past ones. Interesting!
3. Nice subtheme.
4. Ron looks handsome.
5. The series was humorous.
6. The ending is a happy one.

Minus Points:
1. Damian looks weird, I prefer his look in The Awakening Story or Drive Of Life.
2. Toby could do with improvement.
3. Ron and Toby, their chemistry was lacking.
4. Rocky Cheng - his acting is so stiff!

Overall:
Great performance from Damian, Louisa and Rebecca, this series is highly enjoyable. With a humorous side, Men in Pain tells of the pressures faced by men of different generations.

Conclusion:
This series is recommended for all, though the theme is more mature. Nonetheless, sit back and relax while the cast delivers their highly enjoyable performance. Filled with humorous bits, this series is interesting and definitely worth watching.