LA BRASSIERE (PG) 2001
SYNOPSIS: May contain spoilers...
A famous Japanese bra company has broken through tradition by hiring male designers. Hong Kong area chief Samantha after several rounds of audition has decided to hire Johnny and Wayne. Senior designer Lena feels that they do not understand woman at all and cannot create a perfect design. Thus she frequently stirs up trouble between them. The duo initially has underestimated bra design as simple. After several stumbles they finally design the world's best bra. For the world's best bra, they have tangled between the women they loved, Samantha and Lena..... Comedy directed by Patrick Leung & Chan Hing Ka. Starring Lau Ching Wan, Carina Lau, Louis Koo & Gigi Leung.
WEBSITES: http://hk.yahoo.com/promotions/labrassiere/ [Chinese text]
HEROIC-CINEMA'S REVIEW: Lau Ching Wan has returned to films after a one year hiatus, and somehow got himself onto a project which involves him sharing scenes with about a dozen pretty women in their undergarments. Hard work for some. Johnny (Lau Ching Wan) and Wayne (Louis Koo) are hired as the first male bra designers for Sis, the firm run by Samantha (Carina Lau). Their mission: to design the world's best bra, much to the mockery of current head designer Lena (Gigi Leung). The lads set about the task with a passion - the task of trying to date every girl in the all-female office, that is.
There's a lot more to this sassy little comedy than the title might imply. It's a witty look at different perceptions that men and women have of breasts, and both a lot more honest and a lot cheekier than many Hong Kong films. Johnny and Wayne arrive with one thing on their mind (in fact, their entrance to the office when they give each girl the eye is a splendid moment), but as these things go, slowly come around to the women's point of view (being forced to strap on fake breasts and do aerobics is just one of the many kooky steps along their journey of discovery - the scene where they're trying to stuff balloons and/or silicone into their rent-a-bras absolutely slew the Chinese kids sitting around us).
Alas, like many films of this genre, the premise (men make bras!) and the comedy is elbowed out for a bit o' romance. I like that as much as the next softy, but one of the two couples in the film seem to be having a romance because it was in the contract, and seem to lack a bit of spark. Their scenes alone are a little bit flat, and a sharp contrast to the wit and verve of the main plot.
So, out of the 90 minute running time, 30 minutes are champagne comedy, 30 minutes are amusing developments, and 30 minutes are a bit ho-hum (I was going to write "padding", but I'm doing all I can to get through this review without any single entendres).  I'd list all the standout sequences, but I'd risk turning into one of those trailers where you see all the best bits. Trust me, when it's funny it's really funny, with inventive flourishes and chirpy music - irresistible fun. I think Patrick Leung is cheering himself up, given that his last picture was the deeply dark Born Wild. As you can see from the stills, this film is candy-coloured all the way.
Lau Ching Wan and Louis Koo have the time of their lives (wouldn't anyone?), take the piss out of themselves happily (Louis is even seen tanning himself!), and wear a pretty pastel range of shirts and ties. Gigi Leung and Carina Lau are amused bystanders most of the time. Patrick Tam is under-used in a cameo as Ali Bra Bra which promises to be funny but isn't, and Karen Mok pops in for a High Fidelity style ex-girlfriend cameo.
I enjoyed La Brassiere plenty, but I gotta say that the gals I know who've seen it just adore it - so watch out lads, they're onto us. Better see the movie to find out why!. Rating: 7½ B-cups out of 10. Reviewed by Mark Morrison.   MORE REVIEWS: Coming soon!

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