Reviewed by: Paul Fonoroff Date: 11/03/2000 Those looking for an inspirational tale of a pedagogue uplifting his educationally challenged charges won’t find it in The Teacher Without Chalk. Director Albert Mak Kai-kwong pays lip service to the edification of education, but the movie is little more than an excuse for Nick Cheung Ka-fai to strut his diluted version of Steven Chiau-style low humour. Law Yiu-fai’s script provides the proceedings with a flimsy framework of social responsibility that gives the laughs a phony sentimental quality. Judged on the jokes alone the picture gets passing marks but only barely. Nick is twentysomething punk Cheung Ying, a smalltime hood who is beseeched by childhood sweetheart-turned-high school teacher Lo May (Yoyo Mung Ka-wai, sporting glasses to make her look intellectual) to work as a substitute teacher. He is assigned the school’s worst class, which in a tradition stretching back to The Blackboard Jungle and To Sir With Love, he molds into a group of responsible young adults. So much for the plot. The movie is more interesting in its scattered details, such as casting Tsui Kam-kong (more famous for his numerous Cat III appearances) as principal and Lo Wai-kwong (kung-fu whiz and a staple of Jackie Chan movies) as the school’s chief disciplinary official. Mandarin classes are handled by an instructor from Japan (Komatsu Takuya), and there’s a mysterious motorcycle-riding nun (Karen Mok Man-wai) who wields the ultimate authority. Unfortunately, none of these strands is exploited for maximum effect. Instead, there is the usual hodgepodge of cliches as teacher Cheung gains the respect of his unruly wards. He even conducts a tour of Mongkok to instruct them on the underside of life, though this seems to be one subject in which his pupils could all get A plus without any coaching. There are a few outrageous gags, the biggest audience laugh coming from Cheung’s consumption of a recently used condom masquerading as a piece of cuttle fish cooking in his hot pot. Ostensibly inspired by an incident in American Pie, but with a definite Hong Kong quality, it lacks the context that made its Hollywood counterpart more than a mere joke. So, too, The Teacher Without Chalk never goes above the level of a mediocre hot pot bubbling with poorly cooked philosophy and a smattering of jokes. 2 stars This review is copyright (c) 2000 by Paul Fonoroff. All rights reserved. No part of the review may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Reviewer Score: 4