Writer: Peter Chai

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Watch this if you liked: “Tiger Woohoo” & “Great Day”

The future of the Malaysian Chinese movie industry is getting brighter since garnering great results from director Chiu Keng Guan's "Tiger Woohoo" and "Great Day", as well as Ah Niu's directorial debut in the lovely drama, "Ice Kacang Puppy Love", and not forgetting controversial local figure, Namewee's box office breaking record movie, "Nasi Lemak 2.0". This year, local actor and radio deejay, Jack Lim joins the mix with his brand new comedy, "Ah Beng The Movie: Three Wishes" for the Chinese New Year, competing with other Hong Kong and Hollywood blockbusters.

Playing his famous character, Ah Beng, an average clumsy and hilarious security guard from the television series of the same name, Jack Lim and the cast from "Tiger Woohoo" and "Great Day" collaborates with experienced director, Silver to give audiences a story of sincerity and wishes in life with "Ah Beng The Movie: Three Wishes". The movie preachers the importance of prosperity and health in the Chinese tradition and follows a bunch of villagers who pray to the God Of Fortune (GOF) for the upcoming Chinese New Year. Audiences are then introduced to Ah Beng's poor father who manages to touch the almighty GOF with his kindness and sincerity and as a result, he is granted three wishes. Whereas Ah Beng and his friends meet a mysterious man, and join a talent contest in order to get the prize money to save their sick longtime-friend, Salted Fish Lian.

It is hard to deny Jack Lim's successful portrayal of a funny character like Ah Beng and audiences will not tire with his sense of humour in this movie. Credit should also be given to the other wonderful casts, who have shown their improvisations when it comes to their characters. Compared to their previous roles, Gan Jiang Han and Wan Wai Fun, who act as Ah Beng's parents, Gan Mei Yan, Royce Tan, Bernard and singer-host, Keat Yoke, have all improved vastly in their acting skills through this comedic and emotional story.

Every scene in the movie sends an important moral lesson as audiences may shed tears for the dialogue and plot along the story, as the characters' words and body language have the power to put you into their shoes.

Besides making the audience feel closer to the story with the warm family centred scenes, you will be surprised that the unexpected car-chasing scene is as good as the action scenes seen in Hollywood flicks.

Overall, "Ah Beng The Movie: Three Wishes" is a good movie that teaches the appreciation for life, family and friends, and it is definitely worth watching with its creative arrangement and fresh ideas that have never been seen in any of the local movies before.

Cinema Online, 12 January 2012