Three of a Kind - Three Deep-Fried Treasures

September 2005 – Press Release
THREE OF A KIND
“Three Deep-Fried Treasures”



Manila, 18 August 2005 – The Chinese title of THREE OF A KIND, literally translated as “three deep-fried treasures”, refers to the three popular deep-fried snacks sold on the streets of Hong Kong: eggplant, pepper and bean curd. Hong Kong director Joe Ma assembles impressive comedians from three different generations – former king of comedy Michael Hui, new generation comic talent Sean Lau and comedic queen Miriam Yeung – stirring three completely different mind-sets and humour into one dish. The result: a hilarious performance from the three treasures and a film that soars based on its lead actors' sizzling chemistry alone. Premiering Saturday, 17 September at 21:00 on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.

Michael Hui stars as a famous martial arts novelist Dragon Lone, a popular figure whose career has been stalled by a 13-year bout of writer's block. Regardless, Lone leads a comfortable life living on the royalties of his published novels. Lone’s daughter, the charming and filial Sophia (Miriam Yeung), has a crush on her playboy boss Frankie (Sean Lau). But Lone wants his daughter to stay his daughter forever, and is leery of her finding a guy on her own. When Frankie’s house burns down, he shows up at Lone and Sophia's house for a temporary stay. Once a possible relationship between Frankie and Sophia starts blossoming, Lone goes off the deep end…

After years away from the big screen, Hong Kong legend Michael Hui Kwoon-man breaks his screen hiatus and returns to a lead role in this riotous romantic comedy. Now audiences can savour the opportunity of seeing the comic master in action. Alongside him are Miriam Yeung Chin-wah, a comic actress whose screen persona has always been entertaining, and Sean Lau Ching-wan, still one of the great actors in Hong Kong.

The inspiring cast gives wings to director Ma's slapstick, making THREE OF A KIND an entertaining watch. Michael Hui's comic timing and innate humanity make him a lovable, though decidedly strange father figure, and Sean Lau’s charisma brings subtle integrity to his stock character of a womaniser who decides to settle down. In a more surprising and welcome development, Miriam Yeung tones down the mouthy, wacky act that’s been her usual screen persona, and plays an intelligent, lovable girl who's well worth rooting for. In the hands of the triumvirate, the characters' emotional trials take on believable and even affecting life.

THREE OF A KIND offers rich content that creates moments of laughter, loving kinship, and affecting romance. But the emphasis here is not the romantic plot itself; it’s the chemistry among the three treasures and the laughs that arise from their humorous conflicts. Come check out the threesome’s skilful comedic performances on STAR CHINESE MOVIES! Premiering Saturday, 17 September at 21:00.