From Vegas to Macau | 3/5

SINGAPORE - The fourth instalment of the original Hong Kong hit film, God Of Gamblers, is back with Chow Yun Fat reprising his original role.

The plot revolves around Ken (played by Chow), Cool (Nicholas Tse), and Karl (Chapman To) who come up with a plan to defeat an evil money-laundering boss, Mr Ko, who seems to escape even when under close-watch by the police.

Though it’s been a good 20 years since Chow last appeared in the series - with God Of Gamblers Returns - he still strikes me as the comedic Hong Kong version of James Bond in the series – spotting a classic slicked back hairstyle, flirting effortlessly with the ladies, and entertaining the audiences with his nonsensical sense of humour.

Why a comedic Hong Kong version of James Bond? That’s because From Vegas to Macau squeezes themes of crime, action and even comedy all into one film, weaving seamlessly between campy acting and serious moods with the cast’s perfect balance of seriousness and foolishness.

Although scenes where Chow suddenly breaks into a song is a little cheesy, the film balances that with fight scenes - a mix of good old martial arts with a tinge of slapstick - and hilarious over-the-top card tricks. With a storyline full of drama, twists and betrayals added with loads of comical moments, From Vegas to Macau guarantees to tickle audiences right until the very end.

(PG13, 94 mins)