Wonderful! Liang Xi Mei

2018 Singaporean film

February 15, 2018 (2018-02-15)

(Singapore)

Running time

131 minutesCountrySingaporeLanguagesMandarin
Hokkien
Cantonese

Wonderful! Liang Xi Mei (Chinese: 旺得福梁细妹) is a 2018 Singaporean Chinese New Year comedy film directed by Jack Neo.^[1] It stars Neo, alongside Mark Lee, Henry Thia, Benjamin Josiah Tan, Wang Lei, Jaspers Lai, Chua Lee Lian, and Cavin Soh. The film was released on 15 February 2018 in Singapore and Malaysia.

Plot

Liang Xi Mei (Jack Neo) is finally back! Now retired, she spends her time looking after her obedient grandchildren. However, Robert (Mark Lee), her eldest son adds to her woes as he is always dreaming of making a fortune through easy means. She pins all her hopes on her youngest son, Albert (Benjamin Josiah Tan). Her favouritism stirs up jealousy within Robert, who vows to strike it rich to win Liang Xi Mei’s approval. By chance, Robert picks up the doll that is actually the Goddess of Fortune (Cai Ping Kai)! She helps Robert but also appeals to him to be more down to earth and practical in his pursuit of success and wealth. Instead, he turns into an ingrate as soon as his hawker business takes off. His arrogance incurs the wrath of the God of Misfortune (Gadrick Chin) who decides to teach him a lesson. Soon, trouble ensues among Liang Xi Mei’s family and their best friends Guang Dong Po (Wang Lei) and Lion King (Henry Thia). Will they get through this headache of a situation together as a family?

Cast

Jack Neo as Liang Xi Mei/Liang Po Po^[2]
Mark Lee as Robert
Henry Thia as Lion King/Ah Gong
Benjamin Josiah Tan as Albert
Wang Lei as Guang Dong Po/Wang Lei
Jaspers Lai as Merlion King
Chua Lee Lian as Mary
Cavin Soh as Kway Teow King
Cai Ping Kai as Goddess of Fortune
Gadrick Chin as God of Misfortune
Toh Xin Hui as Ah Girl
Zhang Wei as Uncle Lee
Ryan Lian as Kidnapper
Noah Yap as Kidnapper
Richie Koh as Big Boss

Cameo

Yeo Yann Yann as Mrs Fu
Aileen Tan as Mrs Lu
Irene Ang as Mrs Shou
Apple Chan as Young Liang Xi Mei
Leon Lim as Young Uncle Lee

Reception

Critical reception

Yip Wai Yee of The Straits Times gave the film a 1 out of 5 stars, as "showing up only at the beginning of the film and then again briefly at the end, she feels like a complete afterthought, with her name slapped onto the movie title only for marketing purposes." Instead, it mainly focuses on "Ximei's son Robert and his obsession to get rich".^[3]

Samfrey Tan of The New Paper rated it a 1/5, citing "distasteful Hokkien puns and clownish slapstick abound, broken only by the occasional cheap sexual reference".^[4]

Box office

On February 22, 2018, one week after its release, the film crossed the RM$3 million mark in the Malaysian box office.

References

^ "ATF: Jack Neo's 'Liang Xi Mei' Heads MM2's 2018 Slate". December 2017.
^ "COMMENT: Jack Neo may be becoming Singapore's Adam Sandler". sg.style.yahoo.com. 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
^ Yip, Wai Yee (15 February 2018). "Titular character Liang Ximei is missing from the plot". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
^ Tan, Samfrey (14 February 2018). "Movie Reviews". The New Paper. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 24 February 2018.