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DADDY, FATHER & PAPA

(Hong Kong 1991) 

Original Title: Lao Dou Wu Pa Duo 老豆唔怕多

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Directed by Clifton Ko Produced by Raymond Wong, Clifton Ko, Simon Yip Action by Chris Lee Kin Sang Starring: Sammo Hung, Raymond Wong, Gabriel Wong, Teresa Mo, Liu Wai Hung, Tommy Wong Kwong Leung, Bin Bin, Paul Wong, Simon Yip, Teddy Yip, Vincent Kok, James Tien Reviewing: Fortune Star/Joy Sales HK VCD Release Genres: Comedy / Action / Drama

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Rating - 3.3 / 5

VCD Synopsis: A seven-year-old Ben takes delight in getting into mischief. One day, his naughty ways lead him into serious trouble. A list of triad members has fallen into his hands and he is kidnapped by the notorious gangsters. Treating as one of his usual pranks, his dad is undisturbed by Ben's sudden disappearance and makes no attempts to trace his whereabouts. However, Ben is in hot pursuit of a policeman and a reporter, as they both believe Ben is their son. An amusing chase by the rescue party then begins... (98 Mins)

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Views: This Hong Kong remake of Les Comperes is rarely talked about today by fans of the jaded screen, although not for any reason in particular. The film opens with cute child-actor Bin Bin, from classics such as Magic Crystal and A Book Of Heroes, in school and making a mockery of a bully classmate. Although often spoiled by his mother, he's an only-child that just wants to be loved by his over-powering father and often feels very lonely. He finds a bit of friendship with Pierre, a very flamboyant neighbour that likes to invent and work with robotic toys. After a bad report card comes home, Bin Bin is locked in his room by his dick of a dad, but soon escapes to find solace in a nearby park. While relaxing on a bench, Bin Bin witnesses some gangsters chasing down a man who, before taking his last breath, throws the kid a roll of film and tells him to run! As the victim is choked to death, Bin Bin escapes on his bike with the gangsters hot on his tail. During the chase, Bin Bin disposes of the roll by throwing it through Pierre's window before returning home to the wrath of his father and the gangsters hiding in his bedroom. With his room ransacked and Bin Bin gone, his mum decides to do whatever she can to get him back, including telling two previous boyfriends (one a policeman, one a reporter) that Bin Bin just might be theirs. As the rescue mission begins, things get a little out of hand that leads to many hilarious antics and fight-action in an attempt to get Bin Bin home safely!

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The first thing that attracts you to Daddy, Father & Papa is it's fantastic cast. And while it may have a powerhouse martial artist like Sammo Hung headlining the film, this 1991 production does tend to focus more-so on the comedy side of things as oppose to the action. Sammo plays Hung (and why not), who has been convinced that he may be the father of Bin Bin due to a relationship he had with the child's mother many years ago. I've always loved Sammo in comedy roles as I think he pulls it off perfectly, and here he proves why over the course of many different situations. Ever popular comedy-actor and all-round film-maker, Raymond Wong, plays the other possible father to Bin Bin and a reporter with a crazy stroke of bad luck. Both characters are introduced back into her life via very different flashbacks (which is hilarious in itself) before they set out in search of their son. The woman in question is played by the fantastic Teresa Mo, who I just adore. From All's Well That Ends Well to Hard Boiled, Legend Of The Dragon to An Inspector Calls, Teresa never fails to entertain and continues to prove her worth as a comedy actress here. The hilarious Gabriel Wong stars as Pierre, the gay toymaker with high-blood pressure and trademark large glasses who always finds himself in the middle of their trouble. Liu Wai Hung plays Bin Bin's real father who is an abusive and loud-mouthed man that just cares about money. It's only when he realises that his role is questioned and his son is actually missing, do we start to see a change in his ways. Daddy, Father & Papa would prove to be Bin Bin's final role as a child actor, disappearing from the scene altogether for over 20 years before returning in 2015 for one final role in Sorry, Baby – a Chinese mainland comedy that also starred his own son, Little Bin. Kung-fu star and popular gangster actor James Tien plays Brother Ho, the triad boss who wants his negatives back no matter what. He is backed by the great Tommy Wong Kwong Leung and Paul Wong, who do the most of his dirty work – with Paul taking a liking to the young captive over the course of the story, and defecting from his boss in order to help Bin Bin.

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Written by no less than 5 screenwriters, including Joe Ma and Vincent Kok, Daddy, Father & Papa is hardly the greatest film in the world but it does prove to be quite entertaining. Directed by Hong Kong film veteran and actor Clifton Ko, the man behind hits such as Happy Ghost, Chicken & Duck Talk, Gambling Ghost, and Esprit D'Amour, the film doesn't lag for a second but it certainly doesn't benefit from having so many writers behind it. The final 30 minutes sees things take a turn as the gangsters start to get a little more heavy handed with Bin Bin taken hostage once again, along with his real dad – and eventually, everyone else. It's here we get to see a bit more stunt work introduced that leads to a brief shoot-out, explosions, and exchange of punches underwater. It's hardly a career-defining moment for an action-legend such as Sammo Hung, but it fits with the overall tone of the film at the end of the day. I did find it strange however that while it may be shy of the hardcore martial arts we would have expected from a Hong Kong movie of this era (especially with Hung in the cast), those in charge would secure the services of someone like Chris Lee as their action-director. For anyone that doesn't know, Lee was one of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team members that ended up in a coma after the incredible double-decker bus stunt went wrong in Police Story. Apart from starring in many classics such as Project A, Eastern Condors, Miracles, In The Line Of Duty 3, and Full Contact, Lee was also behind the action in My Flying Wife, Burning Paradise, Project A 2, and Twin Dragons. He also took the reins of director on hits such as Queens High with Cynthia Khan, and Crystal Fortune Run with Cheung Man, who he would work with once again on Back For Your Life. But in Daddy, Father & Papa, he really didn't have much to do and the action could have quite easily been handled by Hung himself. Regardless, it still makes for an entertaining film that (while far from perfect) has plenty of funny moments that's backed by a great cast, who I always enjoy watching...

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Overall: A feel good movie that may lack action, Daddy, Father, & Papa still offers plenty of laughs and fun moments!

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