Written by Linda
January 02, 2009
When I found this film in the program of the Seattle International Film Festival, there may as well have been a flashing neon finger pointing directly at the description saying, "Linda! Look here! This one's for you!" I mean look at the stats: A comedy starring Tony Leung and Faye Wong (reunited for the first time since their adorable pairing in Chungking Express), and co-starring Chang Chen (the hottie desert-bandit from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), AND produced by Wong Kar-Wai. Circle. Underline. Big check-mark.
Of course I loved it.
In fact, Chinese Odyssey 2002 took me by surprise, as it was so ridiculously delightful right from the start, and the guffaws never let up. How often does a Hong Kong film really make you guffaw with slapstick comedy? I mean, this film is CRAZY. The actors not only mock each other's reputations, and mock the costume martial arts dramas (yes, like Crouching Tiger), but they also even mock Wong Kar-Wai films, too. For a big WKW fan like myself, it was a real treat to pick apart the in-jokes.
But you don't need to be "in the know" about Hong Kong genre films to get a kick out of this one. The plot is Shakespearean: The young emperor (Chang Chen) and his princess sister (Faye Wong) are restless to escape the Forbidden City and see the world. The princess flees, and moves among the regular folk, dressed in drag as a man (does she pass AT ALL? of course not, but that is never acknowledged). The emperor, less adept at escaping, boldly says he will go look for his sister... and of course runs away, too.
In the meantime, in another town, a local thug known as King Bully (the normally stolid Tony Leung, having a field day with the role) is trying to find a husband for his sister Phoenix (Vicki Zhao), who seems to scare the guys away because she dresses a bit, well, butch. But when a handsome stranger comes to town (who is of course the princess), Bully thinks "Hoorah! My new best friend will be perfect for my sister!" Hijinks, comedy, sexual misunderstanding, and confusion ensue.
Chinese Odyssey 2002 is hilarious. I wouldn't be surprised if this will end up being the most consistently funny comedy that I'll see all year. And not chuckle-funny, but GUFFAW-and-snort-funny. The cast is having so much fun that it is contagious. Seeing the emperor of China dresssed in period clothes, but donning a huge afro wig has to be seen to be believed. Simply sit back and enjoy the ride.
