Pop duo, the BOY’Z – Kenny Kwan and Steven Cheung in their first major film along with the TWINS. Unfortunately, this film fails in so many levels.
TITLE: 6 AM
CAST: Kenny Kwan, Steven Cheung, Charlene Choi, Gillian Cheung, Ray Lui, Cheung Tat Ming
DIRECTED BY: Adrian Kwan
DURATION: 88 minutes
COMPANY: Tai Seng, Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1, Mandarin Stereo 2.0, Subtitles: English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese
Since the film “Papa Loves You†debuted and featured TWINS vocalist and actress Charlene Choi and the film debut of BOY’Z members Kenny Kwan and Steven Cheung, it was
inevitable that there soon would be a film starring the music pop duo.
“6 AM†is a story about Bowl (Kenny) and Noodles (Steven) who are your normal teenage guys who love TWINS and in one unfortunate day, has a run-in with restaurant workers (and wannabe gangsters) led by Razor (played by Cheung Tat Ming). Upon trying to run away from Razor and his goons, the duo happen to be
in the wrong place, in the wrong time.
The triad mini-boss has to meet with the big boss and needs to look for more members temporarily for the day so that it appears he has many young gangsters under him. Unfortunately, for the BOY’Z the get recruited.
At the meeting with the big boss (played by Ray Lui), due to a situation where he needs to stay calm in order to protect his family, he asks for each of the triad members to take part in a lottery and take part in a “Glory Missionâ€. And who wins the lottery? Itʼs our unlucky duo.
Their mission is to kill a rival gang member who is usually by himself after leaving the gym at 6:00 a.m. and to do it within 30 seconds after the clock strikes 6. With taking this glory mission, the duo are given $300,000HK and there is no way out. You either get killed or you end up in prison. And thus the storyline of “6 AM†with the duo trying to find ways to spend their money and reflecting on their lives on a day that may very well be their last.
Written by Tsang Kan-Cheong (Coscreenwriter of popular Stephen Chow films “Shaolin Soccer†and “Kung Fu Hustleâ€) and directed by Adrian Kwan (“Miracle Box†and “If U Careâ€), 6 AM definitely has a problem within its storyline and pacing.
Itʼs not because it is a movie to promote a pop music idol duo but the problem is trying to make two clean cut music stars as triad members. From watching them nearly spend
all their money on gambling to paying to be part in a scene in a film starring the TWINS. Watching them in a variety of ways to how they will spend their money became very boring and irritating.
Granted, some parts of the film were enjoyable but itʼs very difficult to sit back and watch this film comfortably. A “Young and Dangerous†film, this is not. This movie is about reflection about oneʼs life an what has been taken for granted. Unfortunately, by the time you get to the “reflection†part of the film, you had to sit back an watch how the duo will spend their money.
A third character, Bowlʼs sister (played by Katie Kwok) has several scenes which serves as a break after a BOY’Z scene.
Although serving as a break after long BOY’Z scenes, the scenes just show her as an unfavorable character as she shows off how tough she is and how she is a girl who caught her boyfriend cheating with another girl. I felt that this film shouldnʼt even wasted so much of unnecessary
scenes on her.
My favorite part of the film? Of course, I mentioned the TWINS and this is possibly one of my few favorite parts of the movie as Bowl and Noodles spend a lot of money to be part of a scene with Charlene and Gillian (playing themselves). But there are not many scenes that I enjoyed and the scene with the BOY’Z and TWINS could be seen as cute or very irritating.
As for the DVD, I have the Tai Seng US release which doesnʼt feature any special features but a trailer for the film. This film joins many other Asian films that feature popular music stars. Mainly showcasing the talent and not having much of a storyline.
Where TWINZ members Charlene Choi and Gillian Cheung fortunately have had the opportunity to be part of really good films as individuals, not sure if the BOY’Z will ever be parted and be featured individually in their own films anytime soon because “6 AM†is a disappointment. This film joins many other Asian films that feature popular music stars. Mainly showcasing the talent and not having much of a storyline. “6 AM†is a disappointment.
I will say that BOY’Z duo, Kenny Kwan and Steven Cheung have potential and we will see more of them in the future, unfortunately for the present, their major debut in “6 AM†is unfortunately disappointing.