There's something immensely satisfying about a prison escape movie. A group of outlaws planning a breakout only for it to all go to hell come freedom day is a reliable formula for success. Part of what makes such movies so entertaining is the loveable crooks behind the plotting, which is precisely what you get with Ho Pong Mak's “Breakout Brothers”. The prison-break film combines the best of action and comedy to be a thrilling romp full of memorable characters.
“Breakout Brothers” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival
Unlike most prison inmates, Chan Ho-Ching (Louis Cheung) enjoys his brief stints behind bars, seeing them as a welcome break from everyday life. However, his current vacation takes a sour turn when he's unable to see his dying mother, who needs him for an urgent organ transplant. To make matters worse, Chan has been roped in with Mar Kin-Tin (Adam Tin-Nam Pak), a new inmate framed for corruption who becomes a target of opposing prison gang leaders Roller (Patrick Tam) and Scar (Justin Cheung). With time running out to save his mother, Chan decides to hatch a plan to escape.
What really makes “Breakout Brothers” tick is the cast of highly likeable characters at its core. The initial trio of escapees have great chemistry with one another, and their conflicting personalities allows for some sharp exchanges. This only intensifies when the aptly named Snake forces his way into their plans. The way the narrative unfolds, from the initial planning to the attempted escape, is extremely entertaining. Seeing all the pieces of the plan come together is very satisfying and means that even in the less exciting moments, the film is consistently engaging, as the plot is constantly advancing.
Our quartet of escapees might not be so likeable if it weren't for the hyper-charged performances bringing them to life. The ever-charismatic Louis Cheung is easily the chirpiest of the four as Chan, with his optimism and generally care-free attitude making him an easy protagonist to root for. Patrick Tam is also fantastic in his turn as the father/criminal Roller, whose backstory makes up the emotional core of much of the film. The ensemble does an excellent job of keeping these criminals likeable while not making them totally unbelievable. Justin Cheung's Scar, in particular, brings an allure to the gang leader while remaining a genuine threat throughout.
Rather than being a hard-boiled prison thriller, “Breakout Brothers” is self-aware enough to remain relatively light-hearted. This tone doesn't mean that the stakes are compromised, though, as there are real consequences facing our inmates if they should fail. It can sometimes feel jarring to go from a more comedic scene straight into one of brutal torture, but Ho manages to keep things finely balanced for the most part. This is more of an action romp with a dashing of humour than a serious crime thriller and will best be experienced when viewed through that lens.
“Breakout Brothers” captures everything that a prison break movie should be. With a cunning plan and axes to grind, the various would-be escapees are all incredibly entertaining and make Ho Pong Mak's film thoroughly enjoyable viewing. This short and sweet prison drama knows exactly what it's trying to be, so it is sure to be a crowd-pleasing affair. A nice balance of comedy and action, as well as engaging stakes, mean that “Breakout Brothers” is a runaway success.
