How To Meet the Lucky Stars (1996) | Hong Kong Movie World review

How To Meet the Lucky Stars (1996)

Grand March Movie Production Co., Ltd.

How To Meet the Lucky Stars poster

Cast: Stanley Fung, Miu Kiu Wai, Richard Ng, Eric Tsang, Kung Suet Fa,

Francoise Yip, Sammo Hung, Cho Tat Wah, Cheng Pei Pei, Diana Pang Dan,

Natalis Chan, Kim-Maree Penn, Mark Houghton, Chen Kuan Tai

Cameo: Nora Miao, Lowell Lo, Mars, Ho Pak Kwong, Yuen Cheung Yan, Shum Wai, Tai Po,

Wong Shee Tong, Tony Liu, Ma Kei, Joe Cheung, Benny Lai, Yuen King Tan,

Shing Fui On, Kwai Chung, Canti Lau, Yi Fan Wai, Lung Fong, Gabriel Wong

Music: Roel A. Garcia Producer: Hsu Li Hwa Executive Producer: Eric Tsang Director: Frankie Chan

If you've seen any of the Lucky Stars movies, you know the drill. A bunch of men

seek their fortunes all the while trying to to score with a sexy babe who somehow

finds herself in cahoots with them. HOW TO MEET THE LUCKY STARS, the last in the

series to date, joins the formula with the gambling genre for an entertaining

throwback to 1980's slapstick comedies.

As expected there's loads of guest stars and cameos, opening with a tuxedoed

Chen Kuan Tai reprising his title role from the 1976 film KING GAMBLER. Ubiquitous

TV star Kung Suet Fa plays Gambling Flower, a flamboyant lesbian card queen, who

cheats 'King of Gamblers' Liu Tin at the Super Gambling Competition, causing him

such disgrace that he commits suicide.

The Lucky Stars (Richard Ng, Miu Kiu Wai, Stanley Fung and Eric Tsang, minus

Charlie Chin) and King of Gambler's revenge-hungry cop daughter Liu Wai Lin are

gathered by Cho Tat Wah to train in gambling and win back her money at the

next competition. Francoise (famous clubgirl "Miss China City", played by

Francoise Yip) pretends to be his daughter to get the Lucky Stars

interested in cooperating.

In between ogling Francoise, the boys get gambling instruction from Cheng Pei Pei

(androgynous in black trenchcoat and short slick backed hair) and Nat Chan, until the

big day when Liu Wai Lin (played by an extremely attractive actress I'd never seen

before) takes on Gambling Flower at the tournament. This turns into a giant melee

in the gambling hall between just about everybody in the main cast. Francoise Yip

beats up on several guys from Jackie Chan's stunt team, Kim-Maree Penn and Mark

Houghton play Gambling Flower's lethal bodyguards, and even Sammo Hung

(who is relegated to a guest star role) gets in some punches.

Also Nora Miao fans may like to know that although she is pictured on the poster,

she appears only very briefly as the tournament emcee and has maybe a minute

of total screen time. Better than nothing, I guess, since as far as I know she has

not appeared in a film since, and this was made in 1996. Eric Tsang not only serves

as producer and co-star but also sings the theme song. The one discovery for me

was the aforementioned actress that plays King of Gambler's daughter. Even

dressed as a 'tomboy' to seduce Gambling Flower, she's pretty stunning.

I'd have thought she would be better known a la Ng Suet Man or even

Chingmy Yau, but maybe she got hitched and left the business or something.

HOW TO MEET THE LUCKY STARS is a fun romp with a lot of familiar faces and is worth

a watch for Lucky Stars and gambling film enthusiasts. Bye.

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Related viewing: Lucky Stars Go Places (1986) Sammo Hung, Karl Maka, etc.

God of Gambler's Return (1994) Chow Yun Fat, Chingmy Yau, etc.