★½☆☆☆
Much like an extended episode of a children’s television programme that keeps the young happy and entertained during weekend mornings, Aman Chang’s Girl of the Big House serves fluffy cotton candy and whimsical fantasy to unsuspecting viewers.
Produced by Wong Jing, there’s a significant amount of visual effects to bring forth the razzle-dazzle. Child’s play might be the flavour of the film but it isn’t going to be easy to produce an entertaining good time for the audience. Girl of the Big House has a relatively uneventful script that banters about silly nothings.
The comedy and gags deployed are targeted at younger members of the audience, which are largely fronted by adult actors as they interface with the child actors. Introduced halfway through the film, lead antagonist played by Jim Chim unfortunately exudes a great sense of irritation.
Highly referencing Home Alone, the trio of bad guys’ attempt at a home robbery is stopped by the collective efforts of a bunch of children, a housekeeper who packs heavy punches (Yuen Qiu), a dimwitted tuition teacher (Zhen Qi), and a smart interactive robot that reminds one of Big Hero 6. One would expect nothing less than a series of horseplay.
Thankfully, production set design of the castle-like mansion truly reflects the biggest fantasy of every adolescent girl. Sweet and imaginative, it does bring about a comfortable visual satisfaction.
Interesting behind the childish production, there were notably a couple of scenes that contained references to the Chinese migration to Hong Kong. In a particular scene, the trio of Chinese antagonists remarked at how the character played by Francis Ng was “silly enough to allow them to break in his own house”. It’s an innuendo of how Hong Kong citizens are mocked for allowing Mainland Chinese immigrants into their backyard to steal from them.
As the song and dance concludes the film with Hong Kong male group Grasshoppers, the audience marvels at the (lack of) merits in a Wong Jing production and how they manage to remain relevant in the dynamic film market of Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Also published on InCinemas.sg
cineJay 