What would happen if you took an AIP beach movie and moved it to Japan and cast Hong Kong film stars in it? You'd probably get something like this quirky little movie. You get everything from girls in bikinis to fast motion action scenes to cheesy songs every ten seconds. What's not to love?

The plot is so thin that one can pretty much deduce each and every plot turn before it happens. Much of the film is just an excuse for the main stars to lip-sync (rather poorly) to pop songs that are relevant to the plot. Lame attempts at comedy may get a smirk but at times many elements were overdone. It's obvious that the only reason to watch this film is for the eye and ear candy.

Lin Chong plays Chao Ke-jan, the leader of a pop band in Hong Kong. He dresses like Sergeant Pepper and seems to win over girls wherever he goes. He and the band go to Japan to work for his uncle's hotel as well as to find their boss's daughter and bring her back home. What he does find is a lot of trouble and mishaps that would make Frankie and Annette proud. I half expected to have Eric Von Zipper crash the party. Of course all's well that ends well and you know that's where this is headed before the film even starts.

Honestly, these films are a bit of an acquired taste so unless you love 60's fashion, Shaw Brothers female actions and Inoue Umetsugu musicals I would stay away from this one. The only exception would be for the really curious. Luckily I fit all of the above but I realize that I'm probably alone in my opinion.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll try something more "mainstream."

Labels: 31 days of film, Hong Kong, Musical, Shaw Brothers

Tropicana Interlude:

The Shaw Brothers studio is known worldwide for its martial arts movies. For me, however, I tend to think of their musicals as the prime output of the studio. Tropicana Interlude is one of those delightful musicals made in the 60s and early 70s, long after Hollywood abandoned the format.

Although this movie has quite a lot of Hollywood touches to it. In fact, the film is somewhat of a remake of my favorite Elvis movie, Blue Hawaii. Our hero (in the form of Jimmy Lin Chong) refuses to go into his father's business and instead decides to go work as a tour guide to a group of young girls. If you've seen Blue Hawaii you know what's coming but it was all fun with lots of music and footage of many historic and beautiful sites around Malaysia and Singapore.

All in all, a very enjoyable film.

Labels: Hong Kong, Musical, Shaw Brothers