Take 2 (film)

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Not to be confused with Taken 2.
Take 2
Take 2 Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byIvan Ho
Written byJack Neo
Ivan Ho
Produced byJack Neo
Melvin Ang
StarringWang Lei
Ryan Lian
Maxi Lim
Gadrick Chin
CinematographySaravanann
Edited byNeo Rui Xin
Music byMo Ju Li
Production
companies
J Team Productions
mm2 Entertainment
Distributed byGolden Village Pictures
J Team Productions
mm2 Entertainment
Release date
  • January 26, 2017 (2017-01-26)
Running time
108 minutes
CountrySingapore
LanguageMandarin
BudgetS$1.2 million
Box officeS$1.9 million

Take 2 (Chinese: 遇见贵人; pinyin: Yùjiàn guìrén) is a 2017 Singaporean comedy film directed by Ivan Ho and executive produced by Jack Neo. This marks Ho's directorial debut after being a longtime scriptwriting partner of Neo's, and one of two films distributed by mm2 Entertainment during the Chinese New Year period in 2017, the other being The Fortune Handbook.

Plot[]

On a venture to turn over a new leaf and break away from their past misdemeanours, Ah Hu and his 3 other cell mates set up a new F&B venture selling Japanese ramen. But being ex-convicts hinder their success and their inability to fit in with society lands them in numerous comical situations. Their clumsiness ultimately causes the business to flounder. Unwilling to give up the good fight and believing that change will bring about a solution, the four friends come up with a new idea; a 3-in-1 tuition center for students that also provides F&B and massage services for their parents. Good times don’t last when Ah Hu’s nemesis, Di Tie kidnaps his estranged son. Having sworn never to fall back to the path of wrongdoing, it is down to Ah Hu and his friends to save his son without weapons, alerting the cops, and breaking the law. So begins a daring yet entertaining rescue mission.

Cast[]

  • Wang Lei as Mad Dog
  • Ryan Lian as Ah Hu
  • Maxi Lim as Jian Ren
  • Gadrick Chin as Sha Bao
  • Chen Tianwen as Di Tie, Ah Hu's old nemesis
  • Dennis Chew as Ah Hong
  • Henry Thia as Hei Ge, Ah Hu's ex-gang leader
  • Charmaine Sei as Ah Yu, Ah Hu's older sister
  • Kanny Theng as Joey, Jian Ren's love interest
  • Shawn Ho as Ah Guang, Ah Hu's son

Production[]

Pre-production[]

Neo, whose films has been associated with Chinese New Year, said in an interview with The Straits Times that "it's time to give other new film-makers a chance to make their own films". As such, he made Ho, who co-wrote the script for Ah Boys to Men 3: Frogmen, Long Long Time Ago and the "That Girl" segment of 7 Letters, the director of Take 2, while he serves as executive producer and provides Ho with directorial advice.[1][2]

Casting and crew[]

Wang Lei, who plays Mad Dog in the film, signed up "without hesitation" because the role mirrors his life experience as a former gambler.[1]

Lian, who had taken on minor roles for 17 years, and starred as a gangster in Long Long Time Ago, would be making his debut as one of the leads. In order to fully immerse himself in his role of a former convict, Lian would interact with ex-convicts to understand their lives better. According to an interview with the New Paper, he would "eat and talk with them for about three hours (almost every day)", "(watch) the way they behaved, and they would share their life stories".[3]

Dennis Chew, who had previously cross-dressed as Aunty Lucy in Paris and Milan, would take on the role of the lady boss of a tuition centre, among five other roles. For this role, he had to put on a female bodysuit, which had to be custom made and ordered from overseas. It takes 1 hour and 10 minutes for Chew to finish the costume and makeup.[4]

Shawn Ho, then a final-year student studying for a Higher Nitec in film-making at ITE College Central, was approached by the casting directors on the first day of his internship to play Ryan Lian's son in the film, after they have auditioned many people. In order to prepare for his role, he had to brush up on his Mandarin skills using a personal tutor.[5]

Filming[]

Filming started on June 23, 2016, and ended in end July.[6]

Reception[]

Critical reception[]

Rachel Chan of The New Paper rated the film a 3.5 out of 5 stars, feeling that "it is nice to see a heavy topic on ex-convicts being made into a light-hearted film while still keeping the comedic factor and emotions running high".[7]

Boon Chan of The Straits Times rated the film a 2.5 out of 5 stars, feeling that Ho "cannot quite decide if he wants to do a drama or a comedy", and Lian, being the film's lead, "surrounded here by discordant notes, from Dennis Chew in a number of cross-dressing roles to Chen Tianwen as a crazily flamboyant nemesis to a bizarre soundtrack of European songs", drawing the attention away from him.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Yip, Wai Yee (24 June 2016). "Jack Neo executive producing Chinese New Year film about prisoners turning over new leaf". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  2. ^ Loh, Genevieve Sarah (24 June 2016). "Jack Neo's next film tackles ex-convicts' reintegration into society". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  3. ^ Chan, Rachel (25 January 2017). "Channeling an ex-convict in Take 2". The New Paper. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  4. ^ Goh, Marcus. "Busty bodysuits and tuition tales in new Jack Neo movie 'Take 2'". marcusgohmarcusgoh. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  5. ^ Chan, Rachel (25 January 2017). "He landed acting role on first day of internship with film crew". The New Paper. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Filming begins on Jack Neo's CNY 2017 project, 'Take 2'". Malay Mail Online. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. ^ Chan, Rachel (25 January 2017). "Movie review: Take 2 (PG13)". The New Paper. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  8. ^ Chan, Boon (25 January 2017). "Festive fare for young and old". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 31 January 2017.

External links[]

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