Look Out, Officer! (1990) User Reviews

Watch it for Bill Tung and Stanley Fung

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 10 June 2017]

I found LOOK OUT, OFFICER! an above average comedy from the Stephen Chow stable, lifted because it contains a trio of funny performances rather than just relying on Chow himself for the humour. This film's electrifying opening sees POLICE STORY's Bill Tung, aka the lovable Uncle Bill, playing a cop who takes down a warehouse full of thugs in scenes which mercilessly spoof John Woo's cinema, particularly THE KILLER. It's so great to see a guy who is so good but underused in support finally getting the chance to steal the limelight for once.

Before you know it, Tung is murdered by persons unknown, but he soon returns to Earth as a ghost seeking revenge and hooks up with rookie Chow. The next great actor is former Lucky Star Stanley Fung playing his usual straight-guy role as a cop superior. Chow begins romancing Fung's daughter and the comedy goes from there. This is the usual mix of low brow escapades, ghostly scenes, romance, fun special effects, and more heroic bloodshed humour. Amy Yip has a memorable one-scene cameo. Chow is ever the acquired taste, but Fung and Tung are both hilarious throughout and the film has a fast pace and lots of snappy humour to see it through.

Amusing at times, but makes little sense

[Wizard-8 · 5/10 · 6 December 2018]

This is the fifth Stephen Chow movie I have seen, and it is yet another relentless collection of slapstick gags that you wouldn't find in even the silliest Hollywood comedies. If you are not familiar with the outrageous kind of slapstick found in Hong Kong movies, no doubt that some of the attempts at humor will take you aback. But having seen my share of Hong Kong comedies, I am now used to the outrageousness found in these movies. And with the non-stop display of gags, it's bound that I would find some of them to be amusing.

However, though I haven't seen all of Stephen Chow's movies, I think it's safe to say that this is one of his weakest. It isn't because the level of humor is below average, but it's due to the story. As I said in my subject line, the movie makes very little sense. Whole scenes seem to be missing, scenes that possibly might have filled in the gaps of the plot. Also, some scenes seem to be missing footage from their beginnings and/or endings. All this results in the movie's story being quite hard to follow at times. I don't know if this incoherent tone was due to production problems, the film being hacked down in the editing room, or a script that was badly written before filming started. Whatever the reason(s) might be, the movie ends up being one of Chow's lesser efforts, and can only be recommended to his biggest and most forgiving fans.

Look out, officer

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 15 January 2023]

After police officer Piao (Bill Tung) is murdered, his soul cannot be at rest for his murder has been written off as a suicide. Therefore the heavens send him back to Earth as a spirit to find his 'savior' who will help him clear his name. Hsing, a rookie officer, is the savior (Stephen Chow) and in return for finding Piao's killer, Piao must help him a girl (Vivien Chen) he likes and a promotion.

Stephen Chow makes a likeable comic hero in this comedy/parody of buddy cop films. There's plenty of supernatural cop shenanigans and scatalogical humor. It's quite funny and amusing most of the time. Quite enjoyed it. Chow is ably assisted by Bill Tung, Stanley Fung and some wacky villains in delivering good entertainment. Vivian Chen and Amy Yip are eye candy.

Brilliant Masterpiece!

[evergreenoldboys · 14 July 2006]

Classic Mo Lei Tau! This film is also known as Shaolin Idiot...

This is an extremely funny film and a must see for die hard Stephen Chow fans. You might say for his early work this is some of his funniest. The story is quite random and full of ghosts, super powers, fart jokes, and Bruce Lee Spoofing. The comical overacting and slap stick chaos make this movie special.

At one point Stephen Chow kisses his girlfriends father while under a magical spell...in another scene he urinates on a gun which is really the ghost of a dead cop. Really funny stuff. For such a tiny budget film the scope of the story is fantastical.

Its easy to understand the success of Stephen Chow's other projects after one has seen his bizarre and hilarious beginnings.

Goofy ghost comedy with Stephen Chow!

[OllieSuave-007 · 7/10 · 9 November 2014]

Hong Kong funnyman Stephen Chow plays Hsing, a police rookie who has been visited by the ghost of murdered police officer Paio (Bill Tung). His soul cannot be at rest because his death has been written off as a suicide; therefore, he asks Hsing to help him avenges his death in return for finding him a girlfriend and a promotion.

The plot seemed intriguing with the murdered cop/wandering ghost device. However, the somewhat nonsensical comedy and humor overshadows the ghost elements, focusing too much on Hsing trying to court his superior Chin's (Shui-Fan Fung) daughter and Chin attempting to master Taoist magic. There are very little surprises and twists to the story and many silly, nonsensical humor, from Hsing's taking down a bunch of thugs with a flying bullet to Hsing and Chin creating an anecdote with gross ingredients to save Hsing's soul.

However, the acting wasn't bad and you would get a few laughs out of the movie, especially in the part when Chin finds out Hsing is dating his daughter. There are also some nice action sequences, including the ghost vs. wizard scene.

It's not the best HK ghost-comedy out there, but it's worth the watch.

Grade B-

Shaolin Idiot - idiotic

[winner55 · 1/10 · 27 June 2006]

• recently released on budget DVD as Shaolin Idiot: How could actors as good as yuan Wah (wisely acting under a pseudonym) and Bill Tung (the wonderful "Uncle" in all those Jackie Chan Police Story films) get talked into this - I mean, it is hard enough to find farting funny, but with the right timing - but here we actually have to hear Stephen chow defecate! No, I can't do it; I know the tradition of "cantonese comedy,' and I know it's pretty raw; but I have no interest in Stephen chow's defecation.

This is really badly made; if it weren't for Bill Tung and Yuen Wah, the whole thing would be totally unbearable.

Apparently, the 'seven lucky stars' group - which includes jackie Chan and Sammo hung - had a soft spot for Stephen chow. i have no idea why; he has little talent as anything other than a young Benny Hill clone, and I don't even think he's as good as that - to be honest, i sometimes find benny Hill funny.

Not this movie - useful only in punishing your enemies - otherwise, leave it alone!

not revolutionary but definitely fun

[sicksea11 · 9/10 · 14 April 2006]

Piao has been killed in a drug warehouse and its been written as a suicide. his soul come back as a ghost to try and fix this. his sky chosen savior is Hsing(Stephen Chow). Hsing agrees to find his killer for the price of helping him score girls and help with his job.

first of all the movies DVD remake is called Shaolin idiot. i thought this was a irrelevant title but whatever. The film itself was nicely directed. There's a little bit of everything in this movie. comedy action romance, its all nicely done. a problem is that this movie is like many other honk Kong films so if u watched a lot of hong Kong movie this movie might seem a little typical, but i overall great movie to see for fun. with Stephen Chow in it u can safely except a few laughs.

Vivian

[kbarrera-20063 · 10/10 · 11 January 2020]

Her fashion is superb in this movie, the dooney bag alone deserves its own film credit

A lot of fun...

[RosanaBotafogo · 8/10 · 15 August 2021]

Those typical 90s comedies, completely exaggerated, but that we love it has a taste of nostalgia, and full of nostalgia... The chemistry between the cops, the cute one, the veteran and the newcomer, the living, and the dead, a lot of fun...