From directing fantasy wuxia (“Martial Universe” and the “Demon Subduing Division” series) to modern day themed action adventures (“Blind War” and “The Comeback”) mainland director Huo is no stranger as far as online streaming movies go. However, with “Second Life”, which features Philip Ng and Yuen Qiu in the leads, he has given viewers a taste of old Hong Kong action comedy but made in China instead.
At the funeral of policeman Shi, the gang boss who had him killed shows up and pokes fun at his pregnant wife Liang Jie (Zhao Xiao Fei). The furious Liang kills him in the heat of the moment and ends up in the prison. A few months later she gives birth to a baby boy nicknamed “Jelly Noodles”. However, after his first birthday, the prison has him transferred to an orphanage. Fast forward thirty years, the much older Liang, (now played by Yuen Qiu), returns home to continue her herbal and acupressure business in her clinic after doing her time.
Meanwhile, Chang Meng (Lei Mu), the grown up son of the gangster boss Liang killed, is eager to avenge his father. To do so, he has also recruited a skilled fighter Ah Gui (Philip Ng) as his right hand man. Since Liang is an accomplished martial artist herself, Chang fails badly in his attempts to kill Liang. Also, due to an assassination attempt in which Gui survived but lost his eyesight, Chang then sends the blind but still capable Gui across, pretending to be her son to do the dirty job.
Liang is over the moon thinking that her son has returned, she starts to teach him acupuncture, massage and her clinic trade in general and even kung fu. This leads to some very funny as well as some heartfelt moments as the two bond with each other. Gui slowly warms up to her as time passes and finds himself unwilling to kill her. Chang then sends more assassins over, thus making life more difficult and dangerous for both of them.
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What makes this, basically, revenge story more interesting and engaging is the mother and son relationship between Liang and Qui. Their warm and humorous emotional values throughout the film are strong and touching too. Besides, the production is like a wonderful reflection of those action comedy films that Hong Kong cinema used to produce. The production and visuals are bright, colorful and look great. There are even impactful moments displaying the creative use of light and shadows to emphasize drama. In addition, the combination of modern and traditional aesthetics is another welcoming feature.
Furthermore, playful at times, the action sequences choreographed by Zhao Long, are stylish and impressively fun. The fight in Liang’s herbal clinic in which they make use of the medicine cabinet drawers is a standout. Accompanied by great sound effects and the creative use of props like jars, scattering herbs, acupuncture needles, all result in a visual feast of impactful punch out. Another highlight at the end has Liang wielding the polearm guan dao battling a bunch of assassins while she envisions herself as General Guan Yu, which is absolutely priceless.
At 74, actress Yuen Qiu, best known as the landlady from Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Hustle” (2004) is perfect as Liang Jie. Although she is not as fast now, she is still flexible and confident and shines in her many action sequences. Furthermore, she handles the emotional parts convincingly like her heartfelt exchanges with her son Gui. Also, the use of traditional Peking Opera music during her fight scenes is indeed a wonderful touch.
Philip Ng, who played the invincible and ruthless Wang Jiu (King) in “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” shows that he is capable of being sentimental and caring effortlessly. Besides, he is equally convincing in the action department even as a blind fighter. His scenes with Yuen are both touching and humorous and above all they share great chemistry on screen as mother and son. Interestingly, in the TV series “A Fist Within Four Walls” (2016)”, they also played the mother and son roles.
Best known for her role as Liu Yi Fei’s stunt double in Disney’s “Mulan” (2020), stuntwoman Liu Ya Xi is absolutely fantastic as Liya, gang boss Cheng’s deadly female assassin. Besides being a stunner herself, her fight scenes are fluid, impactful and a delight to watch. Zhou Xiao Fei is memorable as the middle-aged Liang Jie and proves that she can easily handle her emotional part and shine in the action department. Elsewhere, Ji Jia He who plays prison bully Hung and Dao Dao, as the undercover gangster, are there purely for comic relief.
To sum up, Huo’s wonderfully crafted comedy action is a real gem, hidden among the countless movies released on streaming services. It has a good balance of heartwarming moments, drama and inventive, exciting and playful action to satisfy any fan of Asian cinema.
