Director: Gordon Chan

Stars: Stephen Chow, Ng Man-tat, Cheung Man, Gabriel Wong Yip-man, Roy Cheung.

Featuring: Barry Wong, Dennis Chan, Paul Chiang (Paul Chu), Yuen King-tan, Nicholas Laletin.

Trying to get promotion within the Royal Hong Kong Police, by testing unsuccessfully to join the task force, Star Chow/Chow Sing-sing (Stephen Chow) is offered an alternative. The soon to retire Police Commissioner (Barry Wong) sends him to retrieve his stolen pistol (believed to be stolen by a student) on an undercover mission into a local high school - Chow posing as a pupil! Needing an ally on the inside, Chow is assigned an undercover partner, Tso Tat-wah (Ng Man-tat) - posing as the janitor, who helps Chow investigate the case.

Even at school Chow fails at his subjects, feeling the wrath of his teachers (including Van Damme’s Kickboxer (1989) mentor Dennis Chan) and stirs up trouble after facing off against the bullies; earning him respect and admiration from his classmates- including bullied Turtle Wong (Gabriel Wong, featured the previous year in Sammo Hung cop comedy Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon). Meanwhile, Chow tries to woo his tutor, Miss Ho (Cheung Man), who helps him struggle through is lessons.

The missing gun was actually stolen by a student/junior triad, who works beneath arms dealer Teddy Big (Roy Cheung). Chow’s interference within the school soon gets Teddy’s attention.

Combining the physical comedic ability of Chow Sing-chi, the unlikely high school setting and a few action scenes, Fight Back To School is a hilarious action comedy; mostly thanks to the screen chemistry of frequent co-stars Chow and Ng Man-tat. The majority of the supporting adult cast are familiar faces to Hong Kong cinema, including regular tough guy Roy Cheung - in the type of role he’s become synonymous with over the years.

Action-wise, there is gunplay and martial arts scattered throughout (action only fans may wish to skip to the finale!), but it’s the range of different comedy that makes the film work so well. Apart from being a highly enjoyable film, Fight Back To School is an ideal introduction for newcomers to the wacky world of Stephen Chow.

Film Review by: Martin Skipper

You can buy this DVD at: www.hongkong-store.com