Hong Kong comic Teddy Boy was criticised when published in 1992, because of graphic violence. But Teddy Boy’s huge fan base inspired a similarly well-received movie series: Young and Dangerous. Both comic and movie follow a group of five friends making their mark in the underworld.
Directed by Andrew Lau Wai Keung, Young and Dangerous did so well that it spun several episodes. The latest one is the sixth, known as Born to be King. This film also made leading stars Ekin Cheng and Jordan Chan famous in Asia.
Chan Ho Nam, ‘Chicken’ Chiu & Friends
Young and Dangerous opens with a historical description of the fire at Lam Tin’s housing estates. A group of five boys playing football run into Ugly Kwan (Francis Ng), who beats Chan Ho Nam up and sprays him with Cola. Triad leader Bee (Ng Chi Hung) intervenes, and Chan and friends decide to work for Bee.
Years later, these five friends stick together in the Hung Hing gang. Chan Ho Nam (Ekin Cheng) leads the pack, with womaniser ‘Chicken’ Chiu (Jordan Chan), Dai Tin-Yee (Michael Tse) and brothers Chou Pan (Jason Chu) and Pou Pan (Jerry Lamb). They are a happy mix of characters, but it is also clear that they commit violence together.
Francis Ng as Ugly Kwan
But Ugly Kwan rears his head again. Francis Ng is famous for his brilliant performance as villain Ngai Wing Hau in Infernal Affairs 2. There he plays an elegant, scholarly rich son, ruthless at running his gang. Here, a younger Francis Ng pushes the limits of acting, creating a maniacal persona. Rolling his eyes, he does a hard stare and croaks like an Italian mobster.
Aware of Chan Ho Nam, Ugly Kwan tries buying him over but fails. His persuasion includes describing Chinese character ‘yi’ for ‘loyalty’ as a sword piercing the heart. Ugly Kwan’s long-standing feud with Bee ends in more havoc. Kwan seizes power and removes Hung Hing’s leader Mr. Chiang (Simon Yam).
Smartie in Romantic Subplot
The half-funny, half-scary support from Francis Ng embellishes the film with black humour. Also, all five friends have a whale of a time, especially when they play a trick on Smartie (Gigi Lai). Gigi Lai gives a fabulous turn as stuttering bargirl Smartie, who resells a stolen car. Unaware she is dealing with the car’s previous owner Chan, she falls into the friends’ trap, and is punished by having to eat pork buns!
Romance grows between Smartie and Chan Ho Nam when he saves her from Ugly Kwan’s greedy clutches to make her a porn star. Gigi Lai and Ekin Cheng have great chemistry, adding fun to the film.
Macau Disaster
Young and Dangerous is fantastic because though tragedy threatens camaraderie, it always stays light-hearted. The group is sent to Macau on a mission, but Ugly Kwan’s ambush kills Chou Pan. He videos a drugged out Chan sleeping with Chicken’s girlfriend Ho Yan (Suki Chan). Chicken is aghast and leaves for Taiwan.
The group of five disintegrates, while Kwan assumes control of Hung Hing. It is only when Bee is murdered by Kwan that the film’s new hero rises. A charismatic Chicken, armed with money and men, returns from Taiwan. Together, Chan Ho Nam and Chicken destroy Kwan.
Young and Dangerous’ charm lies in its jocular treatment of the subject. Bee’s funeral is sad but funny when Father Lam (Spencer Lam) delivers a football kick at Kwan. Jesus and repentance references run through the film. In Chinese culture, ‘yi qi’ means brotherhood, and this film certainly has its focus set on friendship rather than violence.
Sources:
Young and Dangerous Series Review. Hong Kong Film Net, 7 November, 2007.
Stand-up comics. Teddy Boy (1992). Edmund Lee, TimeOut Hong Kong.
- Gu huo zi: Zhi ren zai jiang hu (Goo waak jai: Ji yan joi kong woo: Hong Kong Cantonese title; Young and Dangerous: Hong Kong English title)
- Director: Andrew Lau Wai Keung
- Writers: Cowman (comic), Dickey Yau (comic), Manfred Wong (writer).
- Actors: Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan, Gigi Lai Chi, Francis Ng, Ng Chi Hung, Simon Yam, Michael Tse, Jason Chu, Jerry Lamb, Spencer Lam, Suki Chan
- Running time: 97 minutes.
Lynette S.K. Webster - Copywriter turned Freelance Writer Copywriter for 4 years in Singapore, writing radio, print, TV and recruitment ads for national radio ...
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