6. HE’S A WOMAN, SHE’S A MAN (1996)
Leslie Cheung is the disaffected Cantopop producer who decides to prove how easy it is to make anyone one a star - an in joke, since Cheung is one of the biggest Cantopop stars. He holds a ‘Pop idol’ style audition to find a teenage boy to produce. Unbeknownst to him, his choice happens to be a disguised girl, besotted by Cheung and his singer girlfriend (whose relationship out of the public eye has fallen apart). Worse still, they both fall for the girl, and Cheung fears he may have turned gay - another in joke, as rumours of his sexuality abound.
An intelligent and sophisticated script lift this above the broad, gender bender farce you might be expecting. Charmingly uncynical, it also happens to be very funny.
ALSO RECOMMENDED
Shaolin Soccer (2001)
Stephen Chow’s fun comedy about martial art kicking monks who use their powers to enter the National Soccer Tournament. Includes parodies from Jurassic Park to Saving Private Ryan, and even Michael Jackson’s Thriller video (in the directors version).
