Big Brother

Hong Kong , 2018. dir. Kam Ka-Wai, 111 mins.

Available on DVD

Reviewer Ed Farolan

.This Hong Kong secondary school melodrama didn´t get very good reviews. Some critics like Roger Ebert found it corny, but for some reason, I like melodramas, especially when it´s mixed with martial arts.

The film stars martial artist Donnie Yen from Ip Man 1, 2 and 3. I believe number four is coming soon. He´s a high school teacher who acts like a big brother to his students, especially the dropouts and failing ones. He gives hope to these students. This is the melodrama part.

But what is even more interesting are the fight scenes, especially the gym locker scene where he beats all the mixed martial artists. But then come the endearing parts which could be corny but comic as well. I´m referring to the Go-Kart scene where one of his female students goes racing with her dad, and there´s this emotional scene at the end of the race..

The film has a happy ending as all of Yen´s movies do, and naturally being the star, he´s always the hero at the end of the day.

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