Writer: Sharon Chu

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Watch this if you liked: "Rock"

First things first, "Man Laksa" isn't the ordinary cooking show that you see on TV. It doesn't really have much to do with laksa either. Mamat Khalid directed this quirky, so called 'periodless' film, and has succeeded in coming up with yet another hilarious comedy with his usual posse.

Man Laksa (Yassin Yahya) is a daydreaming youth who sells laksato make a living. When a villager's house is burnt down, the others try to organise a charity talent show for the villager. Man Laksa sees this event as an opportunity for him to develop his business and propose to his crush. However, the organiser's plans are ruined when the artists who promised to perform for the show pulls out at the last minute. Unless Man Laksa helps to save the day, he'll never get the hands of the girl he wishes to marry.

Basically, "Man Laksa" is a nostalgic affair, and if you aren't avid fans of local legends such as Ahmad Jais, Saloma and Dato' M. Daud Kilau, then you probably won't relate to much of what's going on. However, you will still have a tremendous amount of fun. Those who knows who's who in the retro cinema world would definitely appreciate this show much better as this movie pays tribute to some movie legends and their talents.

It's a good thing that the direction of the movie doesn't go astray but instead sticks within the parametres of the talent show. According to Mamat Khalid, this movie does not have a certain time period that audiences can easily identify with. If judging by the movie's costumes only, one can deduct that the movie is set in the 70s, but then, who can really tell? It doesn't matter anyway which period the movie is in, so long as the laughters keep coming from watching the antics of the performers in the movie.

Mamat Khalid has the kind jovial touch that tickles you no matter how illogical you think his ideas may be. Some of his ideas are really good, like the fact that he shot the scenes of legendary Saloma singing without actually showing the singer's real face. The audience never really saw the face of 'Saloma', but it was a good trick because if the director had picked someone to portray the late legend, his critics would have been sure to have mixed reactions, while fans of the real Saloma will surely balk at the idea of bringing Saloma to life again. Thankfully, Mamat Khalid cleverly concealed 'Saloma' from the audience, and evoked good memories of her.

Revered local entertainer Dato' M. Daud Kilau makes a glamorous guest appearance near the end of the show. Not that the other actors in the movie were bad, but Dato' M. Daud Kilau has certainly made his appearance a gem that sparkles compared to the other artists in the film.

Periodless, brainless but painstakingly humorous, "Man Laksa" has certainly delivered a good meal to the viewers, not some scrumptuous laksa,but an entertaining comedy that will tickle you non-stop.

Cinema Online, 23 September 2008