Drama Digest
Detective Chinatown is a 2015 Chinese comedy-mystery buddy film directed by Chen Sicheng and stars Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran. It was released in China on 31 December 2015. A sequel was released in February 2018, and a third film was released in February 2021.
The Feel-Good Part
Detective Chinatown was the ninth highest grossing film in China in 2015, grossing $126 million.
The Disappointing Factor
It is the longest postponed drama which could have made loose interest of the waiters.
In-Depth Analysis
After being rejected from the police academy, a mild-mannered young man travels to Bangkok where he and an energetic distant relative must solve a murder case. After a series of mischievous adventures with Qin in Bangkok, Tang is pursued by police as he is the main suspect in Sompat’s murder, being the last person to enter and leave Sompat’s workshop where he was murdered. Tang seeks the help of Qin, who turns out to be a prodigy in solving crimes. During their exodus from the pursuit, Qin and Tang are captured by Sompat’s cohorts who wish to locate the lost gold. Qin and Tang, now wanted criminals, are able to escape and hide in the home of Xiang (Tong Liya), Tang’s beautiful landlady. However, they are followed by the gold robbers, who arrive just before Kon and then Huang, leading to an awkward confrontation between all parties.
Star Power
Wang Baoqiang as Tang Ren who is Qin’s Uncle, a swindler who lives in Bangkok and claims to be the best detective of Chinatown. Tang accepted an anonymous delivery job before Qin arrived and became the last person entered Sompat’s murder scene. Therefore, both the police and the robbers consider him as the one who murdered Sompat and left with the gold. Liu Haoranas Qin Feng acted as Tang’s nephew, a talented teenager who has astonishing perception and memory yet was rejected from the police college for an presumably because he said he wanted to “commit the perfect crime” during the entry test. He went to Bangkok for a vacation, then gets involved in Sompat’s case by accident. Tong Liya as Xiang is Tang’s love interest and landlady. Chen He as Huang Landeng is Kon Tai’s rival in the police department. He is ambitious and eager to solve Sompat’s murder case.
Overall Opinion
It says much about the colourful characters, thrilling action and inventive visual effects that Chen Sicheng’s odd-couple caper never gets tedious over its 135-minute duration.
