
OFF TRACK
(Hong Kong 1991)
Original Title: Ma Lu Ying Xiong
Directed by Cha Chuen Yee Produced by Benny Chan, Willie Chan Action by Lee Kin Hing Starring: Jacky Cheung, Max Mok, Loletta Lee, Ellen Chan, Wu Ma, Karel Wong, Jimmy Lee, Mai Kei, Billy Ching, James Ha Reviewing: Winson Entertainment HK DVD Release Genres: Triad / Drama / Action
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Rating - 3.5 / 5
Synopsis: Street-racing triad Lui, finds his reputation at stake when new kid Joe shows up and challenges him to a race. At the same time, Lui's sister falls for the handsome stranger which only causes more friction between the drivers. (90 Mins)
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Views: Produced by the late Benny Chan and Jackie Chan's long-time manager, Willie Chan (no relation), Off Track tells the tale of small-time triad boss Jacky Cheung who is one of Hong Kong's best street racers. While he tries hard to keep his title, Cheung is also working on some serious issues he has with his father (Wu Ma), who also happens to be a cop. A handsome stranger soon arrives on the scene (Max Mok) and challenges Cheung to a race in a bid to gain some respect. Jacky accepts and almost loses to Mok – which is enough to damage his reputation and immediately start some friction between the pair. To make matters worse, Cheung's sister (played by Loletta Lee) starts to fall for Mok, much to the annoyance of her big brother. As his family problems close in on him and Mok's popularity grows, Cheung sets out on a vengeful mission to save his name, hurting those around him in the process and losing those he loves!
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Playing out like A Moment Of Romance meets The Fast & The Furious, this 1991 flick is hardly talked about among fans of Hong Kong cinema – most likely lost among many similarly themed movies released around the same time. But the simple truth of it is, Off Track is a pretty decent film boasting a great cast, some nice car chases (albeit with some under-cranking), and some painful looking stunt-work and fights. Helmed by Cha Chuen Yee, a director-turned-actor who appeared in titles such as Tiger Cage 2, Queens High, Super Lady Cop, Inspector Wears Skirts 4 (clearly had a thing for Cynthia Khan), and more, Cha made his directorial debut in 1979 with television show, Reincarnated, alongside a host of other great names. After some more TV work, his first feature film soon followed in 1985 with Journey Of The Doomed starring Stephen Tung Wai and Kara Hui. To date he has directed over 20 titles including, In The Line Of Duty 5: Middle Man, Awakening, Once Upon A Time In Triad Society 1 & 2, Theft Under The Sun, and more. With Off Track, Cha manages to keep things interesting enough, backed by a great cast and a decent script by Rico Chung (who continued to write the most of Cha's directed pieces).
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Jacky Cheung – who I adore – does a great job as the edgy street-racer and angry son, Lui. It's a role that, much like Andy Lau, Cheung could play with his eyes closed with many films around this period showing him in a similar role. It's always great to see the gorgeous Max Mok in any film, and Off Track is no exception. He does great going head-to-head with Jacky Cheung and brings a little suave romance to it all, as he tries to win the heart of Loletta Lee. The gorgeous Ellen Chan, from The Inspector Wears Skirts, Tiger On The Beat 2, and Naked Soldier with Sammo Hung, plays Cheung's girlfriend, Katy. And while she doesn't really have much to do except look great and solve problems, it's just always nice to see her pop up in titles I didn't know she was in. The great Wu Ma plays Cheung and Loletta Lee's unfortunate father who hasn't had it easy since the death of his wife, and popular bad guy Jimmy Lee stars (once again) as the big boss who is pulling on Jacky's strings. A host of other popular faces fill out the cast including Karel Wong from Angel Terminators 2, Fight Back To School, Young & Dangerous 5, and Gambling Baron with Max Mok – popular character actor, Mai Kei, who appeared in a host of Jackie Chan classics along with Billy Ching who stars as another triad, and Ng Kwok Kin who has appeared as a policeman in over 140 films throughout his career.
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The action, which is a mainly gang fights and some one on one fighting, is handled by Lee Kin Hung – an actor and action director who has worked on titles such as Shaolin Vs Manchu, Queens High, Dances With The Snakes, Transmigration Romance and more – with Blacky Ko Shou Liang looking after the vehicle action. Although it never gets wild or comes across as spectacular, it's still enough to keep viewers hooked and offers enough enjoyment when it comes about. While not amazing, Off Track is still an enjoyable watch and has plenty of the late 80s/early 90s Hong Kong film quality about it to keep older fans of the jaded screen happy!
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Overall: Gritty and dramatic, Off Track is backed by a great cast and proves to be an entertaining piece worth a watch!
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DVD Extras: Trailers


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