Plot summary
King of Mahjong centres on the decade-long feud and eventual reunion of Wong Tin Ba and Ah Fatt. 20 years later, Wong Tin Ba, who is now a world-acclaimed mahjong champion and magnate, shows up in Ipoh to challenge Fatt to a final showdown – The World Mahjong Championship. Despite Wong’s insistence, Fatt declines to join the competition as he is determined and contented to lead the life of a commoner. In a bid to force Fatt into the showdown, Wong abducts Fatt’s wife, Ramona, and threatens her to be on his alliance. Fatt has no choice but to join the championship as Wong holds his wife hostage. On the mahjong table, Fatt and Wong compete as the finalists; Master Ru’s secret legendary mahjong move and the truth comes to light as the winner emerges...
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Chapman To does the best acting he has in recent years, and this family drama-first, gambling comedy-second CNY offering is amusing, exciting and surprisingly heartwarming
Watchable Hong Kong comedy...
When I stumbled upon the 2015 Hong Kong comedy "King of Mahjong", I needed no persuasion to sit down and watch it. Why? Well, for a couple of reasons. First, it is a movie that I hadn't already seen, secondly it is a Hong Kong movie, and thirdly it had Chapman To in a leading role.
Granted, I had never heard about "King of Mahjong" prior to watching it, but that hardly mattered. And I will say that director Adrian Teh managed to put together an adequately enough movie. It wasn't an outstanding foray into the Hong Kong comedy genre, but it was watchable and okay.
What works in "King of Mahjong" is the character gallery, as there were some rather interesting and funny characters in the movie, and the fact that they had a good cast ensemble certainly added to that. It should be said that Chapman To definitely carried the movie quite well with his performance.
If you enjoy Hong Kong comedies you might find some enjoyment in "King of Mahjong". The movie was a bit on the bland side, though. Don't get me wrong, because it was watchable and entertaining enough, but it just didn't have that particular spice to make it outstanding or overly memorable.
I am rating "King of Mahjong" a five out of ten stars.