72 Tenants of Prosperity

Because it is CNY, we have to go watch a CNY movie, right? Haha. Went along with my cousins on the spur of the moment to catch this HK comedy.

Synopsis:
In 1970s Hong Kong, rapacious landlords try to evict 72 tenants but sworn brothers Ha Kung (Eric Tsang) and Shek Kin (Jacky Cheung) help the group of 72 defeat the landlord (Lam Ka Tung) and landlady (Charmaine Sheh) and coincidentally rescue Pinky (Anita Yuen) from a planned forced marriage. When both sworn brothers fall for Pinky and propose to her, she flips a coin heads or tails and Ha wins her hand in marriage.
The sworn brothers become sworn enemies and Sheks hatred fuels intense rivalry against Ha in business dealings. In 2010, they are in keen competition selling mobile phones in Mongkok, still home to the 72 tenants.
In fiercely competitive Mongkok, high rents force businessmen to use every means to survive, with electronics shops employing pseudo models in sales promotion campaigns and comic shops offering foot-massage services by Lolita, etc. These ploys are minor compared with the tactics of the landlord who threatens to close down the shops unless his demands for triple rental are met. Amidst this strife and struggle the street is hit by acid-attacks and in high spirits the 72 tenants unite and pledge to safeguard their home.
Against a background of fear and turmoil, with the old love triangle between Ha and Pinky and Shek still festering, the next generation of the Ha and Shek families embarks on their own heroic love affairs: Ha Junior (Bosco Wong) is fascinated by Shek's daughter (Stephy Tang) who is a budding porn movie director; Ha's daughter (Linda Chung), a kung fu maiden, is pursued by Shek's love-struck son (Wong Cho Lam), the smart shortie.

I thought it was quite cute that Joyce Cheng reprised the role that her mother (Lydia Sum) played in the original The House of 72 Tenants, fat Shang Hai Po.

The plot is lacking in this movie, but it's all about the characters (famous HK TVB actors, if you are a HK TVB dramas fan, you will recognise a lot of faces). It's a bit like scary movie, where not much sense is made and there are quite a few parodies. A LOL movie.

Hopefully, everyone's winning a lot of money this CNY!