SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME

REVIEW:

Sky King Aaron Kwok plays Ken Wong, an aimless ex-con who spends his days helping at boxing matches and brooding about his dysfunctional family. When he meets a beautiful HK University student named Gloria (Carman Lee), he decides he needs to change his tune. She wants to fall for him, but she wants a guy whos going to do more than pick up chicks on his motorcycle. With the help of his martial arts teacher (played appropriately by Sammo Hung), Ken learns the ropes and starts on his way up the kickboxing circuit, much to Glorias delight. The two fall in love, but his success and her love are not enough for him. Eventually he must challenge her brother (Michael Tong), the HK kickboxing champ, leading to a surprising and emotional outcome.
A bit like Rocky at times, this film is actually surprisingly good. Patrick Leung's direction is hyper melodramatic and given to excess. The plot is ridiculous, manipulating events to match whatever emotions the film dictates, but the results are compellingly watchable. As pure HK pop entertainment the film is exceptional, and Carman Lee is remarkable as the conflicted Gloria. FYI: the title takes its cue from an old Paul Newman flick. [REVIEWED BY KOZO 1996]