Hong Kong film industry veteran and longtime assistant director Albert Mak directed a few films back in 2000 with his last solo directing effort being “Forget Me Not” (2010). However, he is also known as an associate director to filmmaker Johnnie To in the film “Drug War” (2012). Released during the Chinese New Year 2024, Mak returns as director in the wacky comedy action heist film “Rod N Roll” which is just perfect for the occasion.
Taxi driver Robby (Gordon Lam Ka Tung) lives in a small apartment with his frustrated pregnant wife and his nagging mother. Unreliable and timid, loser Robby lives day to day and avoids the conflicts at home. On the other hand, his good friend Fai (Richie Jen) is an honest man who runs a small elderly home business. But he is forever in financial trouble and the recent rent increase makes his life even more difficult. Nonetheless, these two middle-aged men are kind, good providers who love their families.
One day, Fai calls in the police after discovering that two old people are missing. Detective Jiang, “Ginger” (Maggie Cheung Ho Yee) and a younger officer Yu (Leung Chung Hang) turn up to solve the case. Across the road, three armed robbers storm a money exchange joint, and Jiang, being impulsive, quickly responds which results in a fierce shootout. One robber dies, their leader Brother Mui Lam Tin (Aaron Kwok), and a younger gunman escapes in a school bus with the money.
At the very same time and in the same area, a solo young petty thug, Nam (John Chiang Jr) robs a smaller money exchange store. However, due to the confusion, the bag of money from Mui’s robbery accidentally ends up in Nan’s hand, while Nan’s smaller money bag finds its way into the boot of Robby’s taxi. Now the chase is on to find the money bags. This also includes Brother Xia, “Shrimp” (David Chiang), a gangster who supplied Mui with the guns and school bus for his robbery. Meanwhile, encouraged by the robbery, Fai decides to buy a gun and together with Robby, they plan their own robbery hoping to get some quick cash to solve their money problems.
The first half of the film gets off to a good start in establishing the three main characters and how they bond together. Besides, the exciting and well choreographed shootout earlier in the film is a highlight, even though it echoes the one in Johnnie To’s “Breaking News” (2004). In fact, the whole production plays like a tribute to To. After all, Mak used to be his assistant director and the experience sure lingers on. The backstory concerning Mui is interesting and makes his character more realistic and sympathetic. However, the finale is rather cliched and lacks the comic nature established in the film’s beginning.
In a role that is a far cry from his normally suave look an almost unrecognizable Heavenly King, Aaron Kwok plays Mui, the bucktoothed but chivalrous gangster with a pair of cauliflower ears, the results of years of wrestling. Apparently, Kwok came up with the look himself after reading the script concerning his character. To top it off, he has a set of catchphrases, “Sorry”, “Say Thank You” and “Go!” that he repeats in English throughout the film which further makes his character memorable.
Both Gordon Lam and Richie Jen are equally good as his two colorful squabbling contenders and all of them share great chemistry on screen. The interplay between this trio really makes the movie work even when Kwok is playing against type. Furthermore, these actors really shine in their respective roles and displaying their over the top antics. Despite a defined performance from Maggie Cheung Ho Yee, her Detective Jiang character is unfortunately a bit too under-written.
As the quest for the missing bags of money continues, more colorful supporting characters start to pop up. Shaw Brothers veteran David Chiang (billed as John Chiang, which is his actual name) stands out as a local gangster Brother Xia who gives Mui a hard time. His half-brother Derek Yee also serves as the creative producer of the film. Elsewhere, his real-life son John Chiang Jr pops out as a small-time petty thief who robs the smaller money exchange. The forever lovable chubby uncle Suet Lam plays Fatty, a thug who sells guns for his boss, Charcoal, played by Michael Wong. Veterans Nina Paw Hee Ching also shows up briefly as Robby’s crazy mother while Lo Hoi Pang plays a freeloader at Fai’s nursing home.
Although there are enough explosive shootouts throughout the film, “Rob N Roll” is basically a comedy drama at heart, populated with well developed and likable wacky characters. A refreshing and highly entertaining heist film with a twist which touches on human relationships while featuring an unusual but memorable performance from Aaron Kwok
