This is a standout among director John Woo's Hong Kong films, as it doesn't have every main character die at the end of the story. It's also got quite a bit of humor in it--mostly slapstick, though. The problem with the film is that it can't seem to make up its mind as to whether it's supposed to be a silly comedy (think
Police Academy) or a serious action film (think
Hard-Boiled), and there's little transition between the two moods. If you're feeling you have a bit of a split personality yourself, definitely watch this film, though. Cherie Chung may be annoying as the "little sister" of the trio, but Leslie Cheung and Chow Yun-Fat put in their usual strong performances.
--A.Y.