My Lucky Stars
Encyclopedia
My Lucky Stars is a 1985
Hong Kong
action
comedy film
, directed by Sammo Hung
. It is the second film in the Lucky Stars
series. The film is a semi-sequel to Winners and Sinners
, with many of the same actors returning as the "Five Lucky Stars" troupe, albeit with different character names and slightly different roles.
The film was also released under the following alternative titles:
) enlists his childhood friends, the "Five Lucky Stars", to travel to Japan
to help him catch a Yakuza
group.
A corrupt Hong Kong cop (Lam Ching Ying
) flees to Tokyo to join his fellow mobsters, whose headquarters are secretly built under an amusement park. Two loyal cops, Ricky (Yuen Biao
) and Muscle (Jackie Chan
), travel there to apprehend him and uncover the mobsters’ lair, but Ricky is kidnapped in a fight. Muscle goes into hiding and calls his supervisor to send help; since the mobsters already have information on the officers of the Hong Kong Royal Police Force, Muscle asks to send his orphanage friends, nicknamed the Five Lucky Stars, over. The supervisor agrees and collects the five friends, who are all either petty criminals or low-wage workers. They refuse to aid the police, but the supervisor cunningly sets up a false story in the media that accuses the five of robbing a bank of millions of dollars, blackmailing them into helping. They ultimately agree when the supervisor teams them up with a rookie policewoman, Swordflower, who becomes an object of lustful target to the five. They travel to Tokyo and that night, Kidstuff (Sammo Hung
), who is the Stars' most rational and talented member, and Swordflower go to Muscle’s apartment. After defeating some thugs, Muscle reunites with Kidstuff. The operation is to send phony money to the mobsters to allow the five to enter their lair, and that way they can get closer to freeing Ricky and apprehending the criminals. After a prolonged battle at the bowels of the amusement park, the criminals lose and the Lucky Stars receive a place to live back at Hong Kong as their reward.
, Sammo Hung
. The film also features another of that troupe, Yuen Biao.
In the first film, Winners and Sinners, Stanley Fung
played an undercover policeman who was posing as the leader of the Lucky Stars gang. In My Lucky Stars and the third film, Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
, Hung's character is the nominal leader, and Fung's character is not a cop.
John Shum
("Curly" in Winners and Sinners) was notably absent from the gang in this film, due to his commitments as a political activist
. He is ostensibly replaced in this film by Eric Tsang
.
As with Heart of Dragon
, Sammo Hung's real-life brother makes a cameo appearance as a henchman.
Hong Kong films of 1985
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 1985:.-1985:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 1985 at...
Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
action
Hong Kong action cinema
Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industry's global fame. It combines elements from the action film, as codified by Hollywood, with Chinese storytelling and aesthetic traditions, to create a culturally distinctive form that nevertheless has a wide transcultural...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
, directed by Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
. It is the second film in the Lucky Stars
Lucky Stars
Lucky Stars Lucky Stars Lucky Stars (or Five Lucky Stars; was a Hong Kong action comedy film series in the 1980s and 1990s, blending Chinese martial arts with bawdy comedy...
series. The film is a semi-sequel to Winners and Sinners
Winners and Sinners
Winners and Sinners is a 1983 Hong Kong action comedy film directed, co-written by and starring Sammo Hung. It was the first in the Lucky Stars series of films - a highly successful series in Hong Kong....
, with many of the same actors returning as the "Five Lucky Stars" troupe, albeit with different character names and slightly different roles.
The film was also released under the following alternative titles:
- Tokyo Powerman (Germany)
- Le flic de Hong Kong (France)
- Winners & Sinners 2 (Sweden)
- Winners & Sinners 2: My Lucky Stars
Plot summary
Undercover cop Muscles (Jackie ChanJackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
) enlists his childhood friends, the "Five Lucky Stars", to travel to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to help him catch a Yakuza
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
group.
A corrupt Hong Kong cop (Lam Ching Ying
Lam Ching Ying
Lam Ching Ying was a Hong Kong actor, action director and director. A physically talented and graceful martial artist, Lam was best known for playing the stoic Taoist priest in Mr. Vampire...
) flees to Tokyo to join his fellow mobsters, whose headquarters are secretly built under an amusement park. Two loyal cops, Ricky (Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao
Yuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
) and Muscle (Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
), travel there to apprehend him and uncover the mobsters’ lair, but Ricky is kidnapped in a fight. Muscle goes into hiding and calls his supervisor to send help; since the mobsters already have information on the officers of the Hong Kong Royal Police Force, Muscle asks to send his orphanage friends, nicknamed the Five Lucky Stars, over. The supervisor agrees and collects the five friends, who are all either petty criminals or low-wage workers. They refuse to aid the police, but the supervisor cunningly sets up a false story in the media that accuses the five of robbing a bank of millions of dollars, blackmailing them into helping. They ultimately agree when the supervisor teams them up with a rookie policewoman, Swordflower, who becomes an object of lustful target to the five. They travel to Tokyo and that night, Kidstuff (Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
), who is the Stars' most rational and talented member, and Swordflower go to Muscle’s apartment. After defeating some thugs, Muscle reunites with Kidstuff. The operation is to send phony money to the mobsters to allow the five to enter their lair, and that way they can get closer to freeing Ricky and apprehending the criminals. After a prolonged battle at the bowels of the amusement park, the criminals lose and the Lucky Stars receive a place to live back at Hong Kong as their reward.
Cast
Despite being billed as one of the stars, Jackie Chan's role in the film is relatively minor until the final half hour. The major star of the film is Chan's longtime associate and former member of the Peking Opera SchoolPeking Opera School
The Peking Opera Schools were boarding schools located throughout Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, specialising in teaching Peking opera...
, Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
. The film also features another of that troupe, Yuen Biao.
In the first film, Winners and Sinners, Stanley Fung
Stanley Fung
Stanley Fung Shui-fan is a Hong Kong actor and film director. He was one of the Lucky Stars.-Filmography:*I Love Hong Kong *Vengeance *Accident *Hooked On You - Miu's Dad*Love Is a Many Stupid Thing...
played an undercover policeman who was posing as the leader of the Lucky Stars gang. In My Lucky Stars and the third film, Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film directed and co-written by Sammo Hung. It is the third instalment in the Lucky Stars series, following Winners and Sinners and My Lucky Stars...
, Hung's character is the nominal leader, and Fung's character is not a cop.
John Shum
John Shum
John Shum Kin-Fun is a Hong Kong actor and film producer. His English name is sometimes written as John Sham.Whilst known primarily for his comedic acting roles in Hong Kong cinema, he also spent time as a political activist....
("Curly" in Winners and Sinners) was notably absent from the gang in this film, due to his commitments as a political activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
. He is ostensibly replaced in this film by Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
.
As with Heart of Dragon
Heart of Dragon
Heart of Dragon is a 1985 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film directed by Sammo Hung, and starring Hung, Jackie Chan, Emily Chu and Mang Hoi.It is also known by the titles as 'The First Mission and Powerman III....
, Sammo Hung's real-life brother makes a cameo appearance as a henchman.
- Sammo HungSammo HungSammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
- "Eric" / "Kidstuff" / "Fastbuck" / "Je Gu Choi" - Sibelle Hu - "Barbara Woo" / "Swordflower" / "Ba Wong Fa"
- Richard NgRichard NgRichard Ng Yiu-Hon is a Hong Kong actor. He is known for playing comedic roles, particularly in Hong Kong films of the 1980s and 90s.-Film and television career:...
- "Sandy" / "Dee"/ "Dai Sang Dei" - Charlie ChinCharlie ChinCharlie Chin is a Chinese actor.He first had his period when he moved to Hong Kong with his family at an early age. At only 12 years of age Charlie moved to Taiwan to join Fu Xing Ju Xiao, a Peking opera school...
- "Herb" (as Charlie Ching) "American Ginseng"/"Fa Kei Sam" - Eric TsangEric TsangEric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
- "Roundhead" / "Buddha Fruit" / "Lo Hon Gwo" - Stanley FungStanley FungStanley Fung Shui-fan is a Hong Kong actor and film director. He was one of the Lucky Stars.-Filmography:*I Love Hong Kong *Vengeance *Accident *Hooked On You - Miu's Dad*Love Is a Many Stupid Thing...
- "Rawhide" / "Rhinohide" / "Sai Ngau Pei" - Jackie ChanJackie ChanJackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
- "Muscles" - Yuen BiaoYuen BiaoYuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
- "Ricky Fung" - Cho Tat WahCho Tat WahCho Tat-wah or Tso Tat-wah was a film actor of Hong Kong, most famous for the roles he played in a number of Wuxia films in the 1950s and 1960s....
- "Supt. Walter Tsao" (as Tat Wah Tso) - Michiko NishiwakiMichiko Nishiwakiis a Japanese actress and stunt woman, martial artist, fight choreographer, and former female bodybuilder and powerlifter. She played stunt double for Lucy Liu in the film Charlie's Angels....
- Japanese Gang fighter - Paul Chang - Gang Chief
- Dick WeiDick WeiDick Wei is a Taiwanese actor, director and writer who specializes in martial arts and action films.-Early life & career:...
- gang member - Lam Ching YingLam Ching YingLam Ching Ying was a Hong Kong actor, action director and director. A physically talented and graceful martial artist, Lam was best known for playing the stoic Taoist priest in Mr. Vampire...
- gang member / Renegade Cop (as Ching Ying Lam) - Lau Kar WingLau Kar WingLau Kar Wing is a Hong Kong martial arts film director, action choreographer and actor.-Background:Born in the Xinhui District of Jiangmen in Guangdong, China, Lau Kar Wing was the fourth child of Lau Cham , a martial arts master who studied under Lam Sai Wing, pupil of the legendary Chinese folk...
- gang member (as Kar Wing Lau) - James TienJames TienJames Tien Pei-chun GBS OBE JP is the former Chairman of the Liberal Party , a pro-business and pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong, and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong . He was also a member of the District Council of Hong Kong in the Central and Western district...
- Parole Officer - Teresa Ha - Ping
- Huang Ha - Prisoner No. 6377 (uncredited)
- Tai San - Prisoner
- San Kuai - Prisoner No. 5734
- Bolo YeungBolo YeungYang Sze , better known as Bolo Yeung, is a former competitive bodybuilder and a martial arts film actor. Primarily cast as the villain in the movies he stars in, he is best known for his performances as Bolo in Enter the Dragon and as Chong Li in Bloodsport, and also for his many appearances in...
- Millionaire Chan (uncredited) - Alice Lau - Millionaire Chan's wife
- Ho Kai Law - Dentist
- Fruit ChanFruit ChanFruit Chan Gor is an independent Hong Kong Second Wave screenwriter, filmmaker and producer, who is best known for his style of film reflecting the everyday life of Hong Kong people. He is well known for using amateur actors in his films...
- Card Player - Dick Tso - Card Player
- Billy Lau - Mental patient on Bench
- Lau Chau Sang - Bus Driver with Funny Hair
- Yu Chi-ming - Man with Funny Hair
- Chu Tau - Bus Driver with Funny Hair
- Teddy Yip Wing Cho - Mental Patient with Sandy
- Yuen Miu - Amusement Park Ninja
- Kam Kong Chow - Gang Thug
- Johnny Cheung - Gang Thug
- Yuen WahYuen WahYuen Wah is a Hong Kong based Chinese action film actor, action choreographer, stuntman and martial artist who has appeared in over 160 films and over 20 television series.-Early life:...
- Gang Thug (uncredited) - Lee Chi Kit - Gang Thug
- Chin Kar-lok - Gang Thug / Masked Ninja at Muscles' home
- Siu Tak-Foo - Gang Thug
- Chow Kong - Gang Thug (uncredited)
- Pang Yun-Cheung - Gang Thug
- Wellson Chin - Dumb Gang Thug
- Wong Kim-Ban (extra)
- Lung Ying (extra)
- Wu MaWu MaWu Ma is a Chinese actor, director, producer and writer. Wu Ma made his screen debut in 1963, and with over 180 appearances to his name , Wu Ma is one of the most familiar faces in the history of Hong Kong Cinema...
- Tau Cheung Yeung
- Ng Hoi-Tin
Box office
During its Hong Kong theatrical run, My Lucky Stars grossed HK $30,748,643. It was the first film to pass the HK $30 million mark in Hong Kong.Awards and nominations
- 1986 Hong Kong Film Awards
- Nomination: Best Action Choreography (Yuen BiaoYuen BiaoYuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer...
, Lam Ching-ying)
- Nomination: Best Action Choreography (Yuen Biao