Today’s quick review: Look Out, Officer!. After dying on the job, Officer Cheung Biu (Bill Tung) comes back as a ghost to avenge his murder. Officer Sing (Stephen Chow), Cheung’s replacement on the force, agrees to help track down the killer in exchange for Cheung’s help advancing his professional and romantic life. But the situation grows complicated with Officer Li Kam (Stanley Sui-Fan Fung), Cheung’s old partner, gets involved.
Look Out, Officer! is a Chinese crime comedy about a rookie cop and his ghostly benefactor. The movie is a light-hearted romp that thrusts Sing into a series of wild situations that only Cheung’s powers can save him from. Look Out, Officer! has luck with its talented leads, inventive situations, and irreverent tone. However, its crude humor, over-reliance on Cheung’s powers, and lack of a substantive plot make it a mixed bag overall.
Look Out, Officer!’s biggest draw is Stephen Chow. Officer Sing is one of Chow’s typical roles: a hapless but well-meaning young man who relies on external aid, raw luck, and a dash of cunning to make it through. Chow’s elastic mannerisms and keen comedic timing make him an entertaining lead for anyone interested in his expressive, slapstick-heavy style of humor. He’s also complemented fairly well by Bill Tung and Stanley Sui-Fan Fung.
The main problem with Look Out, Officer! is that a lot of its humor sails wide of the mark. Cheung Biu’s ghostly antics are the focal point of the film’s comedy, but they’re mainly an excuse for cheap slapstick rather than anything clever. Many of the gags are crude, and while they don’t cross any major lines, they do make the film a decidedly lowbrow watch. Look Out, Officer! also sticks with a simple plot with little logic and low stakes.
Give Look Out, Officer! a watch if you’re a fan of goofy comedies and looking for something light and modestly entertaining. Look Out, Officer! doesn’t make the best use of its premise, but it packs in enough comedy to entertain the right viewer. For sharper comedy in the same vein, try The Naked Gun, Hot Shots!, or Police Academy. For more Stephen Chow, try Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer, Love on Delivery, or Justice, My Foot!.
6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for lowbrow but moderately effective humor.