Review on H-Kg movie Return of Cuckoo 十月初五的月光

While I was in Penang late this year, I managed to watch the long awaited movie Return of Cuckoo 十月初五的月光 which was the continuation from the famous TVB drama. The original casts from the drama shot in 2000 will return to the big screen. 
Main leads Julian Cheung and Charmaine Sheh reprised their original roles as Man Cho and Kwan Ho.

The movie was released on 12th November 2015 in the cinemas.

The movie picks up where Man Cho (Julian Cheung) continues his happy life in Macau with his adopted mother Aunt Q (Nancy Sit) and the rest of her group. 

He even has a good female friend, Kei Kei (Joe Chen) suffers from disability to talk. Kei Kei works in the bakery and often bakes Man Cho's favorite cookies despite suffering allergy to nuts. 

After 15 years, out of sudden Kwan Ho returns from America to celebrate Aunt Q's birthday. Everyone was happy for her but Man Cho sensed there was something wrong with her. She appears to smile a lot but deep down she was suffering from a trauma. Man Cho saves her from committing suicide at the bath tub in the hotel. Her family and friends found out she ran away from the mental hospital in America after her husband Szeto Lai Sun and two kids died in a car accident. She kept blaming herself for what happened to her family. Earlier she thought Szeto was cheating on her, so she picked a huge fight with him at home. Szeto left the house with the kids to avoid stress and shouting. However the three of them never returned after that. 

Younger Man Cho and Kwan Ho in the TVB series in 2000

Everyone was worried that Kwan Ho's into depression stage and tends to commit suicide. Her father rushed to see her and Man Cho is like 24 hours keeping an eye on her condition.
Their best friend Kam Sing (Michael Tong) has became very rich and big casino boss but he was betrayed by his girlfriend and best buddy. Kam Sing lost everything and hid away from everyone else. Finally Kwan Ho pulled herself together and began working as tour guide with Man Cho. The two were close as usual causing Kei Kei to become very jealous. Everyone thought Man Cho will be marrying Kei Kei but he only treated her as a friend. Man Cho and Kwan Ho managed to help Kam Sing gain the trust of a real estate tycoon. After laying low for some time Kam Sing became rich again and joint venture with the tycoon.

One day during a strong typhoon, Kwan Ho was to pick Kei Kei up but ended up in a landslide. Kei kept quiet hoping Man Cho will never know what happened to Kwan Ho. When she finally told him what happened, Man Cho rushed to save Kwan Ho being trapped in the car mudslide. He himself injured his head and left it to the last stage. Slowly Man Cho begins to faint and suffer from brain problems. The doctors told him operation would be the best way but chances of him waking up is having amnesia. Aunt Q advised him not to wait anymore and does whatever he wants. He tells Kwan Ho no matter what others say he will always be with her. She nodded and agreed to stay by his side even if he forgets her.

After the operation, Man Cho recovers and Kwan Ho was delighted that he is fine.
She smiles with happiness with the rest that Man Cho is all good. But later it was shown Man Cho had written on his palm before surgery - Kwan Ho, I am fine...don't worry. He was afraid that he suffer from amnesia but he made sure he must never forget Kwan Ho.
Indeed we can see that Man Cho has forgotten everything else so in order to please and not to make them worry, he had to keep reminding himself the person he loved.

The End.


Verdict? Well...storyline was so-so. The fact where the 80s group Grasshopper members appeared as cameo in the casino while playing cards with the sad Kwan Ho made me laugh.
They were funny as ever and dressed in the flashy costumes. Even Man Cho sat beside them giggled and fan-boying away. Hah! That's weird.

The touching scene was when Man Cho sat in the car grieving on the operation success rate, Aunt Q starts singing a folk tale song to make him happy and at ease. 

Ending was quite disappointing... I didn't like it. Overall I'd give it 7/10 for the movie.