King of Comedy (1999) User Reviews

wildly funny, absurdly improbable

[cherold · 8/10 · 30 November 2009]

This is a really funny, laugh-out-loud comedy. It is full of brilliant little bits, and I loved it from an early sequence in which an actor is asked to express a series of emotional states resulting from an improbably sequence of events. There are also a couple of clever, funny take-offs of martial art scenes.

On the other hand, this is the most insanely ridiculously script I think I have ever come across. It really makes no sense from one minute to the next. I mean, for the first hour or so it's improbably but within the realm of slapstick comedy, but then it seems as though all pretext of writing a story goes out the window in favor of doing a bunch of unrelated scenes strung together by impossible events.

But I still liked it. The characters manage to seem real and affecting in spite of the absurdity of their situations (especially Cecelia Chung as a loud-mouthed hooker with a soft, sweet center). And it is wonderfully funny.

A fun ridiculous romantic comedy

[[e-mail] · 8/10 · 29 April 2005]

This is the film Stephen Chow directed before Shaolin Soccer. There is no kung fu in it, but it is hilarious nonetheless. Chow plays a down and out actor who can't get a job even as an extra. He works at a Neighborhood Welfare House and, in his spare time, gives "acting" lessons. These lessons turn out to be for people like a young wannabe Triad member who wants to learn to act tough so he can collect money, or for an expensive call girl to act virginal so she can make more money. All this and more - the subtitles were a bit tough to understand at times, but all in all I laughed quite a bit and it made me think of Stephen Chow as a Peter Sellers type of guy here. This film also hilariously spoofs John Woo films and has a cameo by Jackie Chan!

An uneven and moody story, with 999 climaxes

[vid-10 · 7/10 · 16 October 2004]

Stephen Chow paradoxically portrays the life of an "extra" actor, who is quite committed to acting, yet never manages to land anything better than one-line scripts. Cecilia Cheung leads an equally gloomy life, in which her dreams have been shattered after her boyfriend ordered her to work in a night club to make a living. Cecilia's inability to lure customers results in her attending Stephen's bizarre neighborhood acting classrooms; from then on the movie will follow their fortunes and misfortunes.

The good: as usual, Stephen Chow's movies have hilarious moments and, at the same time, explore everything that can be squeezed out from the main role. While God of Cookery was about "cooking with a heart", here the director deals with the topic of "working hard, to act better" and shows that, somehow, we all are actors in the movie that is our life. Indeed, the movie does not need extravagant settings such as Shaolin monasteries or soccer stadiums, but we get to witness many problems of ordinary Chinese suburbs, including kids becoming triad members and people leading a poor life.

The bad: Considering King of Comedy's social involvement, I would have expected a more linear story. Instead, the narration flow is a roller-coaster of moods, in which every one, not just Stephen Chow, seems a bit loony and overdramatizes every aspect of his/her life. Imagine what A Beautiful Mind would be, if also Jennifer Connelly and the other actors were like John Nash! Extravagant, to say the least! 7/10

Excellent comedy drama

[supercop-2 · 16 June 2000]

This movie was great. Stephen Chow plays Wan Tin Sau, a comedy about a man who has a passion for acting but isn't even qualified to play as an extra in a movie. He shows his dedication to drama and acting in the most hilarious ways and teaches others how to use acting skills in real life. A very funny but touching movie that all would enjoy. i give it 8 out of 10.

The Star Cameo

[boblipton · 6/10 · 3 June 2018]

You'll never confuse Stephen Chow for Robert DeNiro. He's an actor who keeps fouling up takes in the movie he's in because he puts too much life into his dying. When Cecilia Cheung can't keep her job hustling drunks at a local bar because she can't act like she's interested, she hears that Chow is an acting teaching who gives lessons for free. Naturally they irritate each other enormously and...

If you're looking for one of Chow's cartoon/Shao Lin extravaganza, you'll be disappointed, but I found it a good change of pace about two losers who find each other and fall in love, with some very funny sequences and some very sad ones. Chow and his co-director Like-Chi Lee manage some nice shots about the movie business and the idiocy of actors, while maintaining some sympathy for the underdog in this one.

Tragedy, not a comedy

[Raffinato · 9/10 · 27 October 2019]

Any Chinese who's now 30-40 yrs old would've watched this over a dozen times throughout the years, everytime you'll grasp something new, something you thought it was just a laugh bit but turned out to be another meaning hidden inside.

This of one of the two most favorite movies of Stephen Chow himself, the other one is God of Cookery. After seeing almost all of his films, I know why. This isn't just some comedy celebrating the millenium, it's the tragedy of his life, written in a humorous way that intended to inspire people. I don't know what the English version is like, but with the Mandarin version there are catchphrases that are still being used today, it's clever and dumb at the same time, but the ironic part is it's all true even now it's 19yrs later.

Too bad there's no HD version, really looking forward to them releasing a blu-ray.

prosperity is never the state of life

[z-59713 · 7/10 · 4 April 2020]

An easy job to do is to watch the king of comedy, but now he seems too pure, pure and transparent. He can easily say that it will be beautiful after dawn, but he never tells you that it is not every night that we can welcome the day. He will say with affectation, I have experienced too many setbacks in my life, I am really too tired. If even you lose, I really can't support it anymore. In fact, the world, who left who can live, just a good question of living. He can also say, I raise you, and make people cry.



Indeed, "king of comedy" has brought hope to people, but also let people really see the existence of ideals and persistence. However, we all know that movie is just a movie, prosperity is never the state of life.

hong-kong slapstick comedy

[niceguy68 · 9/10 · 21 April 2004]

A nobody actor tries to make it in the movie industry. Meanwhile, on the sides he teaches acting: A call girl learns to act like a virgin, and small time bullies learn to act tough.

If you like asian humor, you'll love this one. Me and my friends had a good laugh watching the situation comic in this movie. If you have a 12 year old sense of humor like us you'll be rolling on the floor. Much better than the tepid, often uninspired US comedies.

FYI: $7 hong-kong = $1 US, that will help you see how cheap the characters are.

Brillant..the best Stephen chow's work yet

[kjubei · 10/10 · 1 March 2000]

Stephen chow once again proves himselfto be the most prolific comedian around Asia.When you think he has nothing left to joke or make fun of...Stephen once again come up with a brillant cast and some how proves to the audience that he's certainly The One. Endless ideas seem to come out fom his mind.But this time i think he out did himself by actually putting some serious overtones to the movie.Somehow he made it work,he was somewhat in a relationship with Cecilia Cheung.If you haven't seen any of Stephen past work you'd think he's kinda lame in this.I really liked him in this actually its nice to see him in tears for once.He being the one all others look down upon,no designer wear,no expensive cars....just the basic Stephen Chow at his best yet

The best

[Siberkop · 9/10 · 14 February 2002]

I don't know if anyone cares about what i'm trying to say here but for me this is the best chinese movies i have ever seen/watch? it's just stephen chow make another comedy movie that actually have something for us to think about it for the rest of our life.I just love how this movie bring some tears to my eyes and actually I love to feel sorry/sad when it is happened in comedy movies.....do you understand?

Chow's rom com

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 2 October 2022]

So this was a vehicle for Stephen Chow as star and director just before he went on to make SHAOLIN SOCCER. It feels like this is a warm up but sadly it's a lukewarm one at best. It keeps you watching early on with the John Woo references and satire, all of which is very amusing, but then it loses it in the flabby storytelling. Essentially this is a romantic comedy but they add in some triad and acting stuff at the end and it didn't really engage me at this point. It's a pity, because there's good stuff here, not least Cecilia Cheung's winning turn as the bar girl, but for my money this is one of Chow's lesser efforts.

A breakthrough for Stephen Chow...

[sychu · 12 December 1999]

It's a breakthrough for Stephen Chow; finally a Stephen's movie with substance. Unexpectedly creative, it's like another version of Forrest Gump; you never know what you gonna get. You want action? You want romance? You want comedy? You want drama? The movie has it all.

Not just a clever name

[Matador · 10/10 · 8 August 1999]

Stephen Chow continues with a variation on a theme (guy who's good at one thing, but utterly incompetent in life), making him the closest Hong Kong replica to Hollywood auteur Adam Sandler (guy who's good at sports, but utterly incompetent in life). Still, the formula works just as well as Chow's other film goodies, such as "Fight Back to School", "Saint of Gamblers: Back to Shanghai", and "From Beijing with Love". Watch for the hilarious spoof of Hong Kong action films.

A faith in the actor life in Hong-Kong

[deadjoe · 8/10 · 19 October 2000]

Stephen Chow is a popular star in Hong-Kong. And the most aggressive and rebel. In the past he attack many establishment , are very vulguar. A klind of Marx Brother on cocaine.

But with this movie, he finish what he begin with Forbidden City Cop. Inject some emotion and doing a self critic of himself and his work. In the past Chow never play the victim, always the clever guys who destroy everything on his way. But He show us fragility for the first time here.

Here is the story of social worker who want to be a real actor. He always squat the "plateau" of different movie.

We can see in various sketch, many perspective of Hong-Kong industry of cinema. John Woo's flick, horror movie, stardom... Chow are the guide. But in the same time he declare his love for his work. Actor! Not just the Actor for movie, but many kind of comedy (in the real sense of the word). And he have enough confident in himself for doing serious variation...

But dont be araid! Stephen Chow do not play Hamlet. He's always an absurd guys who do stupid and non-sensical thing.. Pragmatic people, dont like this movie.

wild parody with some good performances

[freakus · 8/10 · 7 February 2000]

There are some truly hilarious moments in this film; the action sequences with "Sister Cuckoo", the montage in the Community center, and the scene where he teaches the Ice-cream yakuza how to be tough all had me rolling with laughter. Cecilia Cheung does a good job for her first performance, the "hand game" scene where we are first introduced to her seemed very natural and a lot of fun. She makes a very good tough girl, she has a natural growl to her voice. Stephen Chow is great as the earnest yet bumbling hero, and Karen Mok is always a lot of fun even though her role in this film is relatively small.

what the hell happened at the end?

[Ka Ru Fei · 30 January 2002]

I don't know if the dvd I was watching was screwed up or something, or got mixed with some other film... but this movie starts out great and then takes a huge turn at the end in the wrong direction.

I don't know if its just these New Years films that have to get finished on time, so they hack up the story to finish it on time or what, but after starting so well, the end of this film is a big let down.

Cecilia is the best thing about this movie by far, this is one of her first big rolls and she handles it well, its a big departure from every other roll I've seen her in, which is what makes it so interesting, rather then just being the sweet good girl as in Help and Everyday is Valentines Day, etc, she plays a bitchy prostitute who learns to fall in love w/ Chow.

I recommend it to die hard Stephen Chow fans (like me) and die hard Cecilia fans (like I'm becoming).

rue meaning of life

[bogdanigarlind · 9/10 · 20 July 2023]

"Wow, why are you dressed like this? Aren't you playing the leading role? No matter whether you are the leading role or running a dragon suit, you will support me for a lifetime! Nah, try to see if it is suitable? Wow, red, lipstick print, you go to fool! Nah, this time I will let you go. Next time, I won't give you food. Go, go. What are you looking at? Don't be convinced? Hit me, stupid!" When I looked at it before, I don't understand the true meaning implied in the movie, but as I grow older and experience more and more things, looking back on these, I can understand the true meaning of life in the Star Wars movie.

Teardrop movie

[y-26698 · 8/10 · 29 March 2020]

A touching love between the little people at the bottom. Who doesn't want someone in life to uncover your hesitation, weakness, and soothe your heart?

King of dark comedy-Hong Kong's Wes Anderson

[gingko · 3 December 2004]

I like Stephen Chow's movies for a long time.

His ironic and dark sometimes even dumb comedies are remarkable therefore controversial. It is a debate between shallowness and quirky irony.

This is not the issue I'd like to seriously discuss now.

I just find that his work meets some similarities with Wes Anderson's movies.

Such as Rushmore and Bottle Rocket. And he shows himself on screen quite like Owen Wilson's characters. But definitely not Jim Carry! God bless!

weak script but great performance

[SiuWing · 24 December 1999]

Maybe I had too high expectation before entering to the cinema to watch this film, I was disappointed after seeing this. The script is poorly written although the idea of the story is excellent. The ending of this film is not logical enough. It's a kind of pity to have such a good story and quite good beginning but the ending ruined the whole thing.

However, I still recommend it since Chow sing chi's performance was really great! He can draw the viewers' attention to him even though there were not many jokes or funny lines, it's a good proof of his amazing acting skill.

Finally, what I want to comment is the new actors, it's obvious that they tried their best to act, but in my own opinion, their performances are too exaggerate, it would be much better if they can act in a natural way.