Ding Sheng’s
Saving Mr. Wu takes on an added layer of entertainment thanks to the presence of Andy Lau. The megastar stars in the delightfully meta role of Mr. Wu, a superstar actor kidnapped by devious ex-con Zhang Hua (Wang Qianyuan).
The film opens with Mr. Wu’s kidnapping, during which Zhang Hua and his gang impersonate policemen, before jumping ahead 20 hours. Zhang Hua has since been captured and is under interrogation by the police, led by Captain Cao Gang (Wu Ruofu) and his right-hand man Xing Feng (Liu Ye). The nonlinear storytelling continues as the film further jumps around in time, revealing what happened after Mr. Wu’s kidnapping and even some moments before the crime.
Mr. Wu was actually the second person kidnapped; the first was Dou (Cai Lu), a dopey loser who’s being held captive alongside Mr. Wu by Zhang Hua’s three accomplices, who range from misguided to potentially psychotic. While Mr. Wu deals with Dou and the kidnappers, Zhang Hua reveals that he’s smarter than your average perp.
He’s cagey about being followed, and even when he’s in custody he has matters planned out several steps ahead. His schemes aren’t foolproof – the cops do get closer to solving the crime, though their progress is due less to ingenuity and more to hard work and general competence. These cops are good, but it’s their dedication and not cop movie clichés that carry the day.
Saving Mr. Wu is largely a procedural, and Ding Sheng’s smart direction (he also handles producing, editing and writing duties) creates consistent, gritty energy. Effective use of handheld camera and Ding’s sharp editing keep the pace brisk. Action sequences are grounded, with chases featuring Liu Ye running through traffic or climbing fences, and Ding sharply sets up situations to extract maximum tension.
Also, Bruce Law’s car action is immediate and exciting, and is helped by the editing and camerawork, which keeps action kinetic without making it hard-to-follow. The strong momentum is contrasted by quieter sequences, which offer perfunctory character or relationship asides but also necessary breathing room away from the pavement-pounding investigation.
Character interaction is where the film shines. The script offers incisive dialogue, and conversations have multiple levels, which provide audience understanding without sacrificing character or story logic. The meat of the film is in the tense exchanges between Mr. Wu and his kidnappers, and Zhang Hua and the cops. It’s also where the majority of the film’s surprise and entertainment happen. Having Andy Lau is a major plus.
Besides the meta references (Lau’s songs and movies are mentioned), the film capitalises on Lau’s righteous and sympathetic public persona. When Mr. Wu rails at his kidnappers about their integrity, it’s easy to believe because one can imagine Andy Lau doing the same in real life.
Despite Lau’s excellence, Wang Qianyuan is more impressive as the three-dimensional villain. Zhang Hua is willing to commit crimes yet still shows a human side, and Wang portrays his complexities with astonishing charisma. Wang easily outclasses regular Ding Sheng cast member Liu Ye as well as fourth lead Wu Ruofu.
However, the film probably means the most to Wu Ruofu: the story is actually based on his own 2004 kidnapping case. Actual events have been changed for this adaptation, but it’s strange and somewhat amazing to see Wu’s story come to film.
Besides the smart meta-commentary on acting and stardom, Saving Mr. Wu offers the cathartic sight of Wu Ruofu bringing his own kidnapper to justice! That the film is so entertaining and skilfully directed is almost a bonus.