My Lucky Stars (1985)


© Jonathan L. Bowen

Jackie Chan's My Lucky Stars begins with two Hong Kong cops, Ricky (Biao Yuen) and Muscles (Chan), chasing after an ex-cop that stole millions of dollars worth of diamonds. The first ten minutes of the movie is exciting and boasts some awesome small fights with Jackie Chan and his counterpart. The cops run into a group of ninjas that are protecting the ex-cop and the criminal group captures Ricky. Although the movie stars out with some impressive fight scenes and looks extremely promising, it quickly becomes nothing more than an average movie with far too many corny jokes.

Muscles enlists the help of his past friends from the orphanage he grew up in. The group consists of five misfits, including their apparent leader, Kidstuff, played by Sammo Hung Kam-Bo. A mentally retarded person is also part of the group and the other members are also somewhat unusual. The middle part of the movie drags considerably as Kidstuff assembles his friends, but without Jackie Chan on screen whatsoever. When the group is finally together, they engage in numerous absurd antics that are not at all funny, but painfully corny. Humor can work well in every type of movie, but it also can backfire when used inappropriately, such as in My Lucky Stars .

My Lucky Stars tries way too hard for laughs, but instead of laughing most people will be sad that they are not watching a better movie with so many other great ones from which to choose. Occasionally a joke or two does succeed, such as when the group is sitting at a table trying to order food at a Japanese restaurant using only vague hand signs. Nevertheless, the majority of the jokes are not funny and really distract from what could have been a good movie.

There are several other Hong Kong movies that attempt to use Jackie Chan's star power to lure viewers, but then fail to grant him more than a few minutes of screen time. One example is Rumble in Hong Kong (1974), which is universally considered one of the worst Chan movies ever made. In fairness, My Lucky Stars is really good in some parts, especially whenever Chan is onscreen. Nevertheless, he is not on screen enough to make the movie enjoyable. The other actors simply could not deliver enough action or decent comedy to make it a good movie.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

4.   Jul 24, 2000 10:44 PM
I heard that a while ago, that would rule, I think. :)

-- posted by JonathanLB


3.   Jul 24, 2000 10:47 AM
Did you hear that Jet Li may be in the next Matrix?

-- posted by Car


2.   Jul 21, 2000 6:56 PM
Hey, sorry I just continued the string of giving movies a mediocre review, hehe. I am actually a high-rating critic usually, if I use a 100 point scale, I will almost never give a Hollywood production ...

-- posted by JonathanLB


1.   Jul 20, 2000 7:57 AM
Great review... I like Biao's stuff too. =)

-- posted by Car





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