Pantyhose Hero (1990)
(aka Panty Hose Hero) Bojon Films Company Ltd.
Cast: Sammo Hung, Alan Tam, Joan Tong Lai Kau, Yam Wai Hung, Lam Man Chung, Chu Wai San,
Ridley Tsui, Chung Fat, Wu Ma, Yip Wing Cho
Cameo: Paul Chun Pui, Tai Bo, Phillip Chan, James Tien
Music: Lowell Lo Producer: Sammo Hung Director: Sammo Hung
Genre: Comedy | Action
"Butter is not for eating"
Hong Kong films have never catered to political correctness. Gang bosses are glorified, fat
people are mocked, women are objectified, and bathroom humor is abundant. It is perhaps
necessary to bear these facts in mind when viewing Pantyhose Hero, Sammo Hung's fast,
funny, and farcical take on the gay community.
Alan (Alan Tam) and Jeff Lau (Sammo Hung), are two police partners who are assigned to
investigate the brutal murders of two gay men. In preparation, they have to undergo a 3 day
course on how to act gay. Posing as a couple of gay guys, they scout the clubs and bars
for inside information, but have to rebuff the sexual advances of one horny gay caricature after
another to get the clues they need. (A bartender asks Sammo, "What would you like?"
He answers, "Anything but you.") Later, Sammo runs into a pretty dame (or rather she into
him, with her car), adding a romantic subplot to the homosexual hijinx.
The murdered men had lost a shipment of drugs worth millions, and the gang of drug smugglers
who owned the stuff had already threatened their lives if it was not returned. In actuality,
they died at the hand of a gay serial killer (Ridley Tsui); and since Jeff and Alan are pretending
to be gay, they're prey as well. Because of their connections to the gay community, the
gangsters suspect they might know something about the lost drugs.
I don't want to give away too much about Pantyhose Hero, but let's just say that this film is
so chockfull of gags and comic situations that, for sheer entertainment value, I'd say it's one of
Sammo's best. Alan Tam has better comraderie with Sammo than he did with Jackie Chan
in Armour of God, and he gets to fight instead of playing the coward. The acting is great as
usual, and Sammo is adorable when he's wooing Chen-Chen (Joan Tong Lai Kau).
Technically speaking- the writing, choreography, acting, music, editing- this is as good as
anything Sammo has done before. There are four major fight sequences, and another minor
one, with a prolonged ending in a partially constructed building (think Heart of the Dragon).
One stunt performed in the film is one of the greatest I've ever seen. Someone doubling Sammo
gets hit by a car, slams HARD into the windshield, and bounces onto the pavement.
It needs to be seen to be appreciated. Truly amazing!
Pantyhose Hero also has a few cast members you don't see alot of. Two former Miss HK
contestants- Tong Lai Kau and Chu Wai San, and the main villain, played by athlete
Yam Wai Hung, who was also one of the thugs in Slickers vs. Killers the following year.
As Alan Tam's theme song plays over the credits, we're treated to hilarious outtakes.
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Related viewing: Slickers vs. Killers (1991) Sammo Hung, Joyce Godenzi
Armour of God (1986) Jackie Chan, Alan Tam, Rosamund Kwan
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