The Hui Brothers – Michael Hui Koon-man, Ricky Hui Koon-ying and Sam Hui Koon-kit – defined Hong Kong comedy in the 1970s with films like The Private Eyes, The Contract and Security Unlimited.
But Michael, helped by Ricky, continued to make hilarious films throughout the 1980s and beyond. Here we look at three of his best as a comedy actor and co-screenwriter.
1. Inspector Chocolate (1986)
“Magic is in the air when the cop meets the comedian,” noted the Hong Kong Film Archive. “Chocolate Inspector is a special confluence of divergent talents, where Michael Hui’s little-man shtick is informed by Philip Chan’s tough-guy disposition. Chan, by 1986 a seasoned filmmaker, captures Hui’s iconic wit with precise timing and assured mise-en-scène.”
The titular character, so named because he likes to eat chocolate Smarties, is often described as bumbling, but he is not an Inspector Clouseau type – he’s just an average policeman trying to do his best.
This time around, the humour takes more from Woody Allen than Charlie Chaplin or Mel Brooks. Michael’s delirious slapstick is still present, but it is integrated into the drama, and the crime story takes precedence over the jokes.
Aided by Ricky Hui’s character, Inspector Chocolate is tasked with finding the kidnapped son of a famous TV chef but discovers that he is out of his depth.
