Review of All for the Winner (1990) by Juan C — 10 Jan 2011

The Stephen Chow masterclass started here and what an entrance it is. He manages to combine with Ng Man Tat in a film that is not dissimilar to the archetype plots most his films revolve around. Again he enters as a poor man with a special talents, all culminating in a world event in which an inevitable delayed entrance occurs.

What elevates this is the larger than life quirky characters. The mob bosses are quite something both with extreme eccentricities. âBillyâ? also makes an entrance from nowhere to steal a scene. Ng Man Tat and his sound wave disorder is also set up well, especially when combined with an unrequited love. The tone is fantastically uneven with massive fight sequences exploding out at unforeseen moments with colour coded villains. The armpit gag also goes on for such a long period that it can only be magic. The film is always lively and is structured around a well executed finale.

It is also great to think that this film was such a success that it caused a quasi-sequel to God of Gamblers to be filmed, with Chow reprising his role. That would have to be one of the most bizarre sequel pitches in history.