Main Cast: Stephen Chow, Karen Mok, Cecilia Cheung, Ng Man Tat, Jackie Chan
Release Year: 1999
Country: HK
Run Time: 85 minutes
Plot
Wan Tin-sau (Stephen Chiau) is a struggling actor who has devoted his life to the study of his craft, but unfortunately the moment he gets on a film set, disaster usually strikes. However, Wan refuses to give up, and is busy trying to stage a traditional Asian drama, "Thunderstorm," when he gets an unusual job offer. Piu-piu (Cecilia Cheung) is a bar girl who wants to be able to feign a greater interest in her customers, so she hires Wan to give her private acting lessons. The longer they work together, the more they find they have in common, and before long Wan and Piu-Piu are in love. Heikek Chi Wong was a major box-office success in Hong Kong, where it was the top money maker for the Chinese New Year season; Jackie Chan makes a cameo appearance as an extra, and Stephen Chiau in turn had a bit part in Chan's romantic comedy Bolei Cheun, released at the same time. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Chong Kwok Wing - Art Director, Lee Lik-chee - Associate Producer, Bruce Law - Choreography, Choy Yim Man - Costume Designer, Li Lik-Chi - Director, Stephen Chow - Director, Lee Lik-chee - Director, Kai Kit-Wai - Editor, Yau Chi-Wai - Editor, Yeung Kwok-Fei - Executive Producer, Tin Kai Man - Line Producer, Wong Ying-wah - Composer (Music Score), Daisuke Hinata - Composer (Music Score), James Leung - Production Designer, Wong Wing-Hang - Cinematographer, Horace Wong Wing Hang - Cinematographer, Sue Woo - Production Manager, Yeung Kwok-Fei - Producer, Stephen Chow - Screenwriter, Erica Li - Screenwriter, Tsang Ken-cheong - Screenwriter, Fung Min Hun - Screenwriter
King of Comedy (traditional Chinese: 喜劇之王) is a 1999Hong Kongcomedy film directed by Lee Lik-Chi and Stephen Chow. Unlike Stephen Chow's typical mo lei tau films, King of Comedy verges on comedy drama, describing the trials and tribulation that an aspiring actor experiences on his way to stardom. Some commentators say the story is based on Stephen Chow's early career, as he started off as a temporary actor, before becoming a successful and popular comedy actor over the course of a decade.[citation needed]
Wan Tin-Sau (Chow) is an actor who cannot seem to catch a break, since his only professional jobs are limited to being a movie extra. As well as being an actor, he is also the head of his village's community centre.
One day a group of club girls come to ask Wan to help them act like innocent schoolgirls so they can make more money. One of the girls, Lau Piu-Piu (Cecilia Cheung), although a little hardy at first, becomes a better actress through Wan's instruction and falls in love with him. When both characters finally make love, Wan searches his home for enough money to pay Piu-piu for her "services", since he thinks she slept with him for money (not knowing it was for love). After Piu-piu leaves him in anger, he goes back to the film studio where he always harasses crew members for a role, and finally hits the big time, receiving a part as Leading actor next to a legendary actress, Sister Cuckoo (Karen Mok). During this time, Wan reconciles with Piu-piu and he pledges to support her for the rest of his life.
Just as Wan is about to settle in the life of a movie star, his dreams of grandeur are crushed when his part is given to a highly sought after male lead because Sister Cuckoo was jealous of his relationship with Piu-piu. Luckily, he regains his confidence with the help of the misanthropiclunchman at the studio (Ng Man Tat), who is secretly a C.I.B. agent. Wan is used in an undercover operation, where he is disguised as a delivery boy and made to deliver a hidden gun and listening device inside Take-out food. Although the ruse is discovered and the C.I.B. undercover agent is shot, Wan takes up the gun and saves the day. The lunchman is rushed to the hospital and survives his wounds.
After a somewhat successful sting, Wan finally becomes famous through a performance of the "Thunder Storm", a stage production based on the Bruce Lee movie Jing Wu Men. The actors include Piu-piu, Sister Cuckoo, and his wanna-be Triad students. The end of the film involves a blatant marketing plug for Pringles brand potato chips. The entire cast of the play stands backstage rehearsing their lines while literally stuffing their mouths full of Pringles, with the logos of all five cans clearly facing towards the camera. At one point, Wan and one of his triad students argues over who should play the role of Bruce Lee's character, when another actor screams "don't fight, eat chips!" When the closing credits role, a quick Pringles advertisement appears on the screen.
