Director: Wong Jing

Stars: Stephen Chow, Anita Mui, Anthony Wong, Cheung Man, Leung Ka-yan

Featuring: Kathy Chow, Phillip Chan, Paul Chiang (cameo), Chan Pak-cheung (cameo)

Million Wong is stabbed to death with an ice-pick whilst tied up in bed. The chief suspects are Million’s wife Judy (Anita Mui) and his swindler friend Tailor Lam (Anthony Wong). Chow Sing-sing (Stephen Chow) has promised his girlfriend Man (Cheung Man) that he’ll accept no more undercover police assignments, but his superior, Officer Lai (Leung Ka-yan), forces him into assuming the identity of the victim as they look virtually identical.

Chow reluctantly accepts the order. From his prime position, Chow can closely examine the suspects, hoping they’ll expose their identity, but always remaining on guard in case of another attack.

Re-using only a few characters from the previously two films, Fight Back To School 3 is a very different picture. The second film was essentially a retread of the original, here Chow Sing-sing is still an undercover cop - but there’s no school in sight (even his teacher girlfriend Cheung Man has quit her teaching position)!

Pop singer/actress anita Mui (best known internationally for her roles in the Jackie Chan movies Miracles, Drunken Master 2 and Rumble In The Bronx) and prolific Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong (who’s since become known for his starring roles in the Infernal Affairs trilogy (2002-3), but in the early 90’s was still demonstrating his versatility as an actor; good examples of this - and personal recommendations - include Full Contact, Hard Boiled, Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, Taxi Hunter and ultra grisly The Untold Story) are familiar faces added to the cast, as is Kung Fu movie veteran Leung Ka-yan, but this doesn’t hide the absence of Stephen Chow’s regular sidekick Ng Man-tat (whose attempted to be replaced by comic actor Chan Pak-cheung).

Ng’s not the only absentee, as Gordon Chan is replaced by Wong Jing, as the films director. A look through Chan’s movies show his liking of the action genre, but with veteran producer/actor/director Wong Jing you never know what you’re going to get. In Fight Back To School 3’s case, he delivers a wacky “who-dun-it?” comedy, parodying many films (including Hollywood’s Basic Instinct and his own God of Gamblers- Wong Jing does like his gambling flicks!) which severely limits the level of action.

Fight Back To School 3 works well as a farce, but it is so different in style and content from the first two films it should have received its own title.

Film Review By: Martin Skipper

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