Curry & Pepper

Hong Kong's hottest actor, Stephen Chiau, is Pepper and Jackie Cheung is Curry in this American-style odd couple comedy which is a rung or two above the usual commercial fare. The star duo are policemen pursuing a vicious killer, but the negligible plot is more than compensated by the depiction of friendship between the two. Pepper and Curry, friends since childhood, are a study in contrasts. Pepper is impulsive, spoiled, and used to getting his own way, while Curry is dependable and conventional. They even vie for the same woman, a beautiful television reporter played by Ann Bridgewater. The film's chief fault is directional. Blackie Ko is primarily an action director, and Curry & Pepper's action scenes are masterfully handled. One sequence in particular, set in a supermarket, is a small gem. It builds slowly, from verbal comedy to an action-packed shoot-out and then moves outside for a high speed car chase. If the actors had been guided with the same meticulousness as the stunts, Curry & Pepper might well represent a breakthrough for Cantonese action comedies. The musical score, on the other hand, perfectly captures the verve of the people and situations. Its jazz motif complements and enhances the overall mood, providing Curry & Pepper with an extra dash of spice.