Love on Delivery (1994) User Reviews

One of Chow's very best. Right up there with Forbidden City Cop, Fight Back to School 1 and 2 and Shaolin Soccer

[gorthu · 8/10 · 18 April 2009]

Christy Chung stars as a Judo student and her teacher feels that he should be able to have her. Since she knows that she can have anybody, she decides to play around with her teacher and Stephen Chow shows up at just the right moment to get asked out to a Jacky Cheung concert right in front of the Judo teacher. In a poop involved confrontation, the teacher accidentally hits Chritsy in the face and Chow doesn't stand up for her. He says that he loves her dearly, but she won't date a coward. He starts training in kung fu, and like all Chow movies, there is no training and this is just a reason for more comedy. They drag the story out with tons of hilarious stunts and jokes. So after briefly learning kung fu, Chow sort of gets lucky against the Judo master where he fights him in a Garfield mask. After saving Christy from possibly being rapedd, he ends up losing credit for his good deed and she finds a boyfriend in no time. One that can protect her that is. This guy just kind of shows up to get rid of all types of martial arts since his Karate is so superior. He also takes the credit for being the masked Garfield hero and Chow ends up having to fight him in a contest.

There are 3 fight scenes. The first one is played for laughs, the second is a huge throwdown, and one of the very few times I found myself rewinding a Stephen Chow movie for the action. A lot of effort was put into this scene and that is for sure. The final battle in the arena is a mix of comedy and realism. Some of the choreography is good and MMA is put to good use. Chow never does end up learning kung fu, so he has to defeat his enemy by using his wit. Luckily, he did do some weird training on top of a moving van and it proves to be very useful. The gags never stop. Another Stephen Chow classic.

Its a bird... its a plane, its... Garfield?!

[juubei-2 · 8/10 · 8 August 2006]

Stephen Chow is a comedic genius. Sure, Love on Delivery can at times be childish or even banal, but the overall effect is one of sheer insanity of the best kind. One of my favorite scenes is the satire of the Terminator. The characters are genuinely funny caricatures of the down on his luck loser delivery-boy, the dreamy lover girl, the penny-pinching boss, the cocky martial arts instructor, the dirty cheat out to make a quick buck, and many more.

Like Shaolin Soccer, Chow manages to create a mindless romantic comedy mixed with chopsocky martial arts and it works, but expect something more like a cartoon that your typical western comedy.

Another example of why Chow is a classic comedian

[ChungMo · 7/10 · 12 February 2006]

Not knowing any of Chow's films before seeing Shaolin Soccer, I only heard about this HK comic actor and thought he was just another of the typical broad comedians that come out of the HK film industry. Shaolin Soccer was a real revelation but it could have been a unique instance. Kung Fu Hustle showed me that he was an accomplished comedic talent. I have been trying to find his earlier films and am finally succeeding. I encourage you to do the same.

There's a lot to compare Chow with the classic comedians of the US film industry. Unlike Jacky Chan who has publicly stated his fondness for Buster Keaton, Chow seems to be more related to Harold Lloyd style. A low key personality in crazy situations. Unlike Chan and many other HK performers, Chow never forces his personality over the top. He surrounds himself with inventive situations and great supporting characters. The one unique aspect about Chow is the philosophic nature of many of the characters he plays. This film is a good example.

Lots of very good comic situations and a great climax. The main drawback is the overused wide-angle cinematography which make the film look cheaper then it should. This film has a lot in common with his more famous films so it should be enjoyable.

Good time.

The funniest Hong Kong movie I've seen

[Dan_Harkless · 14 October 1999]

This is the funniest Hong Kong movie I've seen (though I've only seen a few dozen) -- even better than Jackie Chan's stuff. In fact, it's one of the funniest comedies of any kind that I've seen.

The scene where the seemingly indestructable hero keeps popping up, fists on his hips (in a Superman pose), wearing that incredibly ridiculous Gar Fai (AKA Jim Davis' Garfield) mask, is to die for.

Crazy, but fun

[Wizard-8 · 6/10 · 2 September 2018]

If you are not familiar with the goofball style of Hong Kong comedies, you probably won't be prepared for what you'll see showcased in "Love on Deliver". But even if you do have some familiarity with Hong Kong comedies, there's still a good chance you won't be prepared for what you'll see here. The closest I can get to describing the comedy here is the style of American comedian Jerry Lewis... ramped up to about 100 times the level what Lewis was able to do. The results are certainly outlandish and insane... but I admit that I did find enough here that did tickle my funny bone. Even during the times that the humor is just weird without being funny, the craziness and wondering what new turn will happen in the story kept me watching. Yes, those more familiar with Asian culture will probably get a lot more out of it, but even those who are dipping their toe into Asian comedy for the first time will still find it an unforgettable experience... and they'll probably laugh at least a few times to make it worth their time.

So mindlessly funny it borders on childishness

[ganbare1 · 7/10 · 30 December 2000]

Don't expect any kind of substance in this film (or in most of Chow's films). Director/producer Wong Jing has a knack for putting together ridiculously shallow but hilarious plotlines and throw them altogether like the way one tosses a salad. This film is no different. However, if you like Chow or if you like whacky comedies then you won't be disappointed; it sure has some ridiculously funny moments.

Stephen Chow comedy is madcap and likable

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 21 December 2016]

I know that Stephen Chow is an acquired taste in the west due to the fact that his Hong Kong comedies feature very Chinese-style humour which takes some getting used to. LOVE ON DELIVERY is no exception, a farcical and furious madcap comedy about a downtrodden delivery boy who falls in love and gets involved in a wide-ranging storyline involving martial arts champions.

I'm pleased to say that this is one of the better Chow comedies I've seen, up there with FROM BEIJING WITH LOVE and much better than the last one I saw, the wearying MAD MONK. It's not up with the highs of SHAOLIN SOCCER or KUNG FU HUSTLE but it never disappoints and it remains entertaining from beginning to end. The jokes come thick and fast and most hit home. I love the breadth of humour, from surrealism to out-and-out Japanese-style wackiness, pratfalls, and slapstick. Even the low brow humour, like a scene involving dog's mess, really works.

Chow can be relied upon to always give everything in these performances and just watching him act makes you feel tired at how much he achieves. The action stuff here features some incredible stunt scenes and physics-defying moments and is very good. The random cameos from Jacky Cheung, Billy Chow, and Philip Chan are much appreciated and Ben Lam makes for a suitably imposing antagonist. If you love Stephen Chow, you're going to adore LOVE ON DELIVERY.

A Non-Stop Laugh Riot

[arlosanchezofficial · 10/10 · 22 June 2020]

My first introduction to Stephen Chow was when I saw Kung Fu Hustle opening day when I was eight years old. I loved every second of the movie thanks to its visual comedy and slapstick, as well as its Abbott & Costello-esque banter between characters. Pretty much every movie that Chow has made and starred in has had similar elements throughout their runtimes, but no other film of his that I've seen has made me laugh harder than Love On Delivery.

Good lord, this is one of the funniest films I've ever seen. This could be described as a "laugh-a-minute" film, but where movies that have that same description might lose the comedic energy they had at the start, this film never once falters in its pacing or its laughs; I don't think there's a single joke that doesn't work, whether it be visual or spoken.

Focusing on a love-struck but cowardly delivery boy who has to fight a karate master to win the heart of a beautiful martial arts student who's searching for a hero, the movie introduces you to a variety of wacky characters that feel like they're ripped straight out of a cartoon, with action sequences that will have you impressed with their choreography as you're doubled over wheezing with laughter.

There are even lots of impressive practical effects on display here, most of them had me scratching my head wondering how the crew managed to pull them off. The film also has an unbelievable amount of heart and charm; the characters are just so genuinely lovable and fun that you can't help but happily go along for the ride and see how all these crazy events that happen turn out.

I seriously can't recommend this movie enough. It's currently on Netflix and I implore you to watch it so it stays on there and hopefully finds a bigger audience. There are so many jokes that'll have you laughing after the film ends and you're going to want to show it to everyone you know. Let's hope this gets a Blu-Ray release someday!

A brilliant Stephen Chow classic...

[paul_haakonsen · 7/10 · 29 January 2021]

If you are familiar with the movies of Stephen Chow, then I assume that you are already familiar with "Love On Delivery" (aka "Poh wai ji wong"), the Hong Kong comedy from 1994.

Oddly enough, especially with my interest and fascination with the Hong Kong cinema, then it wasn't before now in 2021 that I stumbled upon this classic Stephen Chow movie. Actually I hadn't even heard about it prior to sitting down to watch it. And with it being a Stephen Chow and a Hong Kong movie, of course I needed no persuasion to sit down to watch it.

This is definitely and without a doubt a classic Stephen Chow movie, in every sense of that phrase. You had a funny storyline, detailed and funny characters, heaps of hilarious situations, with just a pinch of drama and fighting. And it works out wonderfully.

I must admit that I was more than genuinely entertained by "Love On Delivery", especially because the storyline was so funny. But the performances in the movie were also spot on. So what's not to like?

Writer Vincent Kok definitely wrote an interesting and entertaining plot and story for this movie, and director Lik-Chi Lee managed to make the transition from script to screen very well. And needless to say that the acting performances in "Love On Delivery" were good.

Speaking of acitng performances, then aside from Stephen Chow in the lead, this 1994 comedy also has the likes of Christy Chung, and Ka-Sang Cheng, and some special appearances by Philip Chan and Jacky Cheung. So if you are well-traversed in the Hong Kong cinema, then you will definitely see some familiar faces here.

If you enjoy Hong Kong comedies, then I can warmly recommend that you sit down to watch this 1994 movie. Even with 27 years passed since it was released, this is a movie that still proves watchable and holds up even this long afterwards. "Love On Delivery" is a movie that is quite well-worth a watch. My rating of this movie lands on a seven out of ten stars.

Love on Delivery

[Captain_Couth · 9/10 · 19 May 2010]

Love on Delivery stars Stephen Chow as Ho, a wimpy delivery boy who falls in love with Lily (Christy Chung) a kung-fu student. But her instructor Black Bear (Joe Cheng) has been trying to court her and butts heads with Ho. Black Bear challenges Ho to a fight, but the cowardly Ho ducks when Black Bear tried to punch him, hitting Lily instead. Humiliated by such a display of cowardice, Ho turns to a broken down kung-fu master Tat (Ng Man Tat) to teach him the art of fighting, But Tat's unconventional methods of training may not be as effective as they seem.

A funny and violent film starring Stephen Chow (who also wrote the screenplay). The beautiful Christy Chung co-stars (who speaks her dialog phonetically). The always interesting Ben Lam co-stars as Tuen, an invincible Karate master who believes karate is better than kung-fu and will do whatever he has to do to prove it. Jacky Cheung, Philip Chan and Billy Chow make cameo appearances as well. The wild fight scenes were directed by Ching Siu-tung (who also co-directed the film).

The film parodies Rocky, Rocky III, The Terminator, Garfield (aka Ga Fei Miao) and the Karate Kid series. Tat wears a wife-beater just like Miyagi, Chow tries to master the "crane kick" as well. A funny and more realistic version of the film as well. A couple of music videos are worked into the film as well (which are pretty funny). Remember, being a good fighter is not all about how strong you are but how to out wit your opponent.

Highly recommended.

A very silly comedy that's beautifully self aware

[ianwagnerwatches · 7/10 · 28 April 2020]

A very silly comedy that makes the most out of the visual medium. This film makes its mark on the audience with intense zooms and dolly shots, wide-angle lenses, over-the-top sequences, strange and hilarious scene transitions, creative visual gags, absurd fight sequences, and rapid, witty dialogue. It plays with highs and lows with the unbounded imagination of a child and never relents. Poh wai ji wong is a light hearted comedy that earns its place on the silver screen.

Stephen Chow Classic

[coconutkungfu-30704 · 10/10 · 17 February 2020]

Hilarious Stephen Chow film filled with memorable scenes and lines. A wonderful example of Cantonese Mo Lei Tao comedy. Highly recommended!

Crazy funny!

[AnimePunk23 · 9/10 · 5 October 2018]

This movie is a blast to watch with someone! it's so funny, was not expecting all the laughs

Funniest Stephen Chow movie makes it one of the best

[jordondave-28085 · 10/10 · 4 July 2023]

(1994) Love On Delivery (In Chinese with English subtitles) COMEDY

Funniest Stephen Chow movie so far which this plot device to impress a young girl in this case Christy Chung is nothing but an excuse to showcase some slapstick routines, although some people may be grossed by it that's why it's shown in films. Chow's frequent sidekick Man Tat Ng also stars in this as a fake martial arts instructor to whom Chow goes to learn martial arts. The gags is inspired between the wacky Naked Gun/ Top Secret and the Airplane movies and Jim Carey films! The love story is nothing more but a backdrop to the nuances.

Very funny Stephen Chow film, easily one of his best

[TheRetroCritic · 8/10 · 5 November 2023]

Released in 1994, Love On Delivery (aka King Of Destruction) is a Hong Kong comedy starring Stephen Chow as a naive delivery boy who tries to impress a girl by learning martial arts from a wise master, who may not exactly be the all-knowing badass he claims to be.

Christy Chung plays Lily, a Judo student whose teacher (Joe Cheng) keeps hitting on her. This prompts her to kiss a stranger to get him off her back. The stranger in question is candid delivery boy Ang Ho-Kam (Stephen Chow) who suddenly finds himself falling in love with her. The problem is he just doesn't cut it when it comes to holding his own. After struggling to purchase Jacky Cheung concert tickets to take Lily out on a date (Cheung cameos in the film), he fails to defend her against the Judo master making advances so she breaks it off with Ang, calling him a coward. Defeated, Ang meets a shop owner called Tat (Ng Man Tat) who claims to be a martial arts expert and is willing to teach him, for a price. The price turns out to be all of Ang's money since Tat proves to be a very obvious conman. Can Ang learn... anything about self-defense before Lily gives up on him entirely?

One of Stephen Chow's earliest comedies as (co-)director, Love On Delivery marked his second collaboration with long-time partner-in-crime Lee Lik-chi and its quick pacing in terms of jokes helped establish a new wave of slapstick spoof comedies in the vein of the 70's Michael Hui classics, but with a more modern edge. Chow's trademark style of comedy is very much in full force here, as is his deadpan demeanor. The visual gags get goofier and goofier as the movie goes on and every character is sillier than the next, with the likes of The Terminator, Rocky and Kamen Rider getting spoofed along the way. Tat's effortless scamming of Ang is the highlight of the film as it leads to some truly hilarious confrontations including Ang's discovery of the Fire Spin move which consists of simply grabbing someone then falling down a flight of stairs with them.

About halfway through, the film sees Ang sport a Garfield mask and fight his nemesis, the mean Judo teacher, but the real challenge he has to face is a professional fighter played by Ben Lam who challenges him to a big match after wooing Lily. The fight in question is, of course, a complete farce (think Charlie Chaplin's boxing short film) and provides lots of laughs. This is easily one of Chow's funniest movies and it holds up surprisingly well. Some of his more well known works feel a little overrated at times but Love On Delivery delivers (pun intended) in the most important department: the jokes themselves. One would've liked for Christy Chung to do a little bit more in the second half of the film, since her character was meant to know martial arts as well, but other than that the film makes the most of its fun, energetic cast.

If you're looking to discover the works of Stephen Chow and Lee Lik-chi, then the brilliantly anarchic Love On Delivery is not a bad place to start. It's refreshingly not as gross-out as some of Chow's other films, and the slapstick is supported by a genuinely very funny script, which is not always the case.

A good time.