It's a Wonderful Life (2007 film)

Last updated

It's a Wonderful Life
ItsaWonderfulLife2007.jpg
Film poster
Traditional Chinese 心想事成
Simplified Chinese 心想事成
Hanyu Pinyin Xīn Xiǎng Shì Chéng
Jyutping Sam1 Seong2 Si6 Sing4
Directed by Ronald Cheng
Screenplay byRonald Cheng
Patrick Kong
Produced byPaco Wong
Starring Ronald Cheng
Tony Leung
Vincent Kok
Alex Fong
Teresa Mo
Louisa So
CinematographyDay Tsou
Ronald Cheng
Edited byKinson Tsang
Kwong Chi-leung
Music by Raymond Wong
Distributed by Gold Typhoon
Release date
  • 15 February 2007 (2007-02-15)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Language Cantonese
Box officeHK$7.8 million

It's a Wonderful Life is a 2007 Hong Kong comedy film written, directed by and starring Ronald Cheng, who makes his directorial debut. The film co-stars Tony Leung, Vincent Kok, Alex Fong, Teresa Mo and Louisa So.

Contents

Plot

The Jade Emperor (Patrick Dunn) is offering a reward for a proposal plan to promote the economy of Heaven. When Thunder God (Ronald Cheng), who known for his cleverness, submits his proposal to the Jade Emperor, Thunder God's girlfriend, the Saint of Nine Heavens (Mia Yam), reveals that thirty years ago, Thunder God once descended to Earth and helped a chubby boy named Ding Don, helping him stay on the right path and not go astray. Thunder God thought he was going to be rewarded for this effort, but instead, the Saint of Nine Heavens tells him about a promise he made to the kid, that he will come forward to help the kid if he faces any difficulties. At this very moment, Ding Don (Vincent Kok), now grown up, is facing a death amulet. If Thunder God does not fulfill his commitment, it will be a disadvantage for him when campaigning for his proposal. Thunder God, who possess great strength in his magical powers, decides to fulfill his promise and descends to Earth and help Ding Don go through his crisis. However, the situation is not as simple as he imagined to be.

Ding Don is currently in his 30s, living with his beautiful wife, Cheng Choi (Louisa So), and younger brother-in-law, Cheng Wo (Alex Fong). Ding is a director of a department store and is often bullied by his superior, Pat Sau-kong (Tony Leung), while his brother-in-law have fallen in love with a gambling addict, Miki (Miki Yeung), resulting in a huge debt from loan sharks. The Saint of Nine Heavens also finds out from the Life and Death Collection book that on New Year's Eve, Ding's life will be in danger as Pat had hired assassins to kill Ding. When Thunder God attempts to protect Ding with magical powers, he does not know how to properly put spells, resulting in a large chaos.

Cast

Music

Theme song

Insert theme

Critical reception

Lau Kit of the South China Morning Post gave the film a positive review praising the performances of Tony Leung Ka-fai and Teresa Mo, while also praising Ronald Cheng's transition from lowbrow humour to offering comments of life. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Journey to the West</i> (1996 TV series) Hong Kong fantasy television series

Journey to the West is a Hong Kong television series adapted from the 16th-century novel of the same title. Starring Dicky Cheung, Kwong Wah, Wayne Lai and Evergreen Mak, the series was produced by TVB and was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in November 1996. A sequel, Journey to the West II, was broadcast in 1998, but the role of the Monkey King was played by Benny Chan instead, due to contract problems between Dicky Cheung and TVB. Cheung later reprised the role in another television series The Monkey King: Quest for the Sutra (2002), which was broadcast on TVB but not produced by the station.

<i>The Legend of the Condor Heroes</i> (1994 TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on TVB Jade in 1994.

<i>The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber</i> (1978 TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1978.

<i>The Duke of Mount Deer</i> (1984 Hong Kong TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

The Duke of Mount Deer is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Deer and the Cauldron, produced by TVB and starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung. It was first aired on TVB Jade in from 9 July to 31 August 1984.

<i>The Condor Heroes 95</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

The Condor Heroes 95 is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Return of the Condor Heroes. It was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1995. Many of the cast from The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1994) reprised their roles in this series, such as Lau Dan and Wayne Lai. In addition, Jason Pai reprised his breakthrough role as Kwok Ching, whom he previously portrayed in The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1976) and The Return of the Condor Heroes (1976).

<i>New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. The series was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1986.

<i>State of Divinity</i> (1996 TV series) Hong Kong TV series or program

State of Divinity is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. It was first broadcast on TVB in Hong Kong in 1996.

<i>Gods of Honour</i> Hong Kong television series

Gods of Honour is a Hong Kong television series adapted from the 16th-century novel Fengshen Bang, a Chinese vernacular classic written by Xu Zhonglin and Lu Xixing. The series was first aired on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 2001. It starred Benny Chan, Chin Kar-lok, Irene Wan, Michelle Ye, Dickson Lee, Yuen Wah, Kingdom Yuen and Winnie Yeung in the lead roles.

<i>The Mystery of the Condor Hero</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

The Mystery of the Condor Hero is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. It was first broadcast on TVB Jade in Hong Kong in 1993.

<i>The Duke of Mount Deer</i> (1998 TV series) Hong Kong television series

The Duke of Mount Deer is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Deer and the Cauldron. It was first aired on TVB in Hong Kong in 1998.

<i>Forensic Heroes</i> (franchise)

Forensic Heroes is a series of TVB police procedural television dramas written by Choi Ting-ting (I–III), Chan Ching-yee (I–II), Leung Man-wah (III-IV), Yuen Mei-fung (IV), Sin Chui-ching (IV), Yip Tin-shing (V) and Sin Siu-chun (V), and produced by Mui Siu-ching (I-IV)and Ben Fong (IV-V). The series follows a group of Hong Kong forensic scientists working together with the Hong Kong police to solve murders through physical evidence left over from crime scenes. Currently, two serials and three reboot installment were produced.

God of River Lok is a Hong Kong television series produced by TVB. Set in the Three Kingdoms period, the story is about the romance between Zhen Fu and Cao Zhi. The series has seven episodes, each roughly 60 minutes long. It was first aired in Hong Kong on TVB Jade on 30 March 1975.

<i>Behind Silk Curtains</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

Behind Silk Curtains is a 1988 Hong Kong grand production serial drama produced by TVB featuring an ensemble cast from the TV station including veteran actors Adam Cheng, Liza Wang, Ray Lui and future award-winning cinematic stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Stephen Chow.

<i>Tom, Dick and Hairy</i> 1993 Hong Kong film

Tom, Dick and Hairy is a 1993 Hong Kong romantic comedy film directed by Lee Chi-ngai and Peter Chan and starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai and Lawrence Cheng as the three titular protagonists.

<i>Wars of Bribery</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

Wars of Bribery is a 1996 Hong Kong crime television series produced by TVB that aired on its channel TVB Jade from 10 June to 5 July 1996. This drama is also that final series that stars Aaron Kwok and Athena Chu filmed for the television station.

<i>Man from Guangdong</i> 1991 Hong Kong martial arts television series

Man from Guangdong is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts television series produced by TVB and tells the story of Leung Kan, portrayed by Aaron Kwok, the fictitious son of famed martial artist Leung Foon, whom was a favored disciple of folk hero Wong Fei-hung, portrayed by Shih Kien. Shih, who portrayed Wong in the series, was known for portraying antagonists in a series of Wong Fei-hung-related films during the 1940s to 1970s, while the series also features Sai Gwa-Pau reprising his role as "Buckteeth So" from the aforementioned series of films.

<i>Police on the Road</i> Hong Kong TV series or program

Police on the Road is a 1991 Hong Kong action police procedural television series produced by TVB and starring Gallen Lo and Wan Yeung-ming. With a total of 13 episodes, the series contains a different story in each of the episodes. Originally aired from 5 October 1991 to 1 February 1992 on TVB Jade, the show had a rerun on the channel, TVB Classic, from 4 to 12 June 2015 as a part of the special, Our... Gallen Lo (我們的...羅嘉良), that ran from 20 March to 12 June.

My Lucky Star is a 2003 Hong Kong movie directed by Vincent Kok. It was the final film made by Golden Harvest Company before their merger with Orange Sky.

References

  1. "It's A Wonderful Life". South China Morning Post. 22 February 2007.