Detective Chinatown (2015): A locked room mystery carried by Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran's odd couple
An intriguing murder mystery filled with colourful cops and crooks enlivens this first entry into China's record-breaking comedy franchise.
The Detective Chinatown series has become one of China’s biggest box office successes, with two sequels and a newly released prequel each breaking into the top 20 highest grossing domestic films of all time. Its first outing wasn’t quite the juggernaut of its successors - even though it still made an eye-watering $120m during its theatrical run. However, it remains the best entry into the franchise to date.
The sophomore film from director Chen Sicheng, Detective Chinatown is a classic odd couple farce which beautifully pairs the overblown stylings of comedy icon Wang Baoqiang with stoic newcomer Liu Haoran, who made his first screen appearance in Chan’s directorial debut Beijing Love Story. Haoran plays deadpan detective fiction buff Qin who flunked his admission interview to join the Chinese police. Wanting to learn the tricks of the trade, he travels to Thailand to stay with his uncle Tang, who proclaims to be a top private investigator in Bangkok’s Chinatown. When he arrives, Qin not only learns that his uncle is little more than a petty criminal, Tang has also found himself framed as the prime suspect in a murder.
Detective Chinatown certainly outstays its welcome at an inexplicably long, patience testing 135 minutes. Nevertheless, as Qin endeavours to put his sleuthing skills to the test and clear his uncle’s name, there are enough colourful characters amidst the film’s motley crew of cops and crooks to keep viewers amused, whilst Chen Sicheng proves himself more than capable of shooting the zany action sequences. Despite plentiful comic diversions along the way, the well-devised, locked-room murder mystery always keeps you guessing too.
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Directed by Chen Sicheng. Written by Chen Sicheng. Starring Wang Baoqiang, Liu Haoran, Tong Liya, Chen He. A Heyi Pictures, MM2 Entertainment, Quidam Studios, WanDa Pictures and Wuzhou Film production. Distributed by China Lion Film Distribution, Golden Village Pictures, MM2 Entertainment, GEM Entertainment and Wuzhou Film Distribution. 136 minutes. China.