A good comedy can warm up a cold winter nights. It seems as if the spirit of the season seeps into the works of even the most cynical scriptwriter, and a greater degree of cheer appears in their works during this time of year. But while they might be more upbeat, that has no relation to how funny they might be.

This winter, mainland director Ah Gan and Wang Guangli introduce two breakout comedies. Ah Gan shows that Two Stupid Eggs is no fluke, and Wang puts together two seemingly unmatchable actors in his Dangerous Games.

Dangerous Games

Dangerous Games is expected to bring fun at the end of the year. The film features a cast that includes Cannes Best Actor Xia Yu (bottom, right) and rising star Tang Yan from the mainland, as well as singer-actress Gigi Leung Yongqi (left) and veteran actor Eric Tsang Ziwei (bottom, left) from Hong Kong. Director Wang Guangli and lead actors Gigi Leung, Xia Yu and Eric Tseng attended a press conference in Beijing, marking the release of the film's trailer and theme song.

The film tells a story about love in an amusement park. Xia Yu plays a hot-air balloon pilot who works at the park. Gigi Leung is a bar tender with a hot figure and even hotter temper who steals Xia's heart.

Meanwhile, Gigi Leung, from Hong Kong, has shot a range of sexy and charming photos for the international fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar. And Leung strays from her established image in Dangerous Games. "I won't force myself to change styles; it is a natural thing," she says. "I am no longer that young, and I think it is time to change. I will show you a brand new Gigi this time."

Dangerous Games hits Chinese cinemas on December 28.

Big Movie 2 - Two Stupid Eggs

After parodying Chinese and Hollywood blockbusters, such as The Matrix, Forrest Gump and House of the Flying Daggers in last year's hit Big Movie, director Ah Gan brings his new Big Movie 2-Two Stupid Eggs to the screens during the same season of 2007.

Two Stupid Eggs is a Chinese adaptation of the Spanish movie Torroemolinos 73 (2003).

There's fierce competition for this New Year's box office, and a slew of new films are hitting screens in time for the holidays. The newly released Two Stupid Eggs, is a low-budget comedy that scores high on the laughter factor.

The release date falls right between two heavyweights, Peter Chan's The Warlords and Feng Xiaogang's The Assembly. The timing will mean that Two Stupid Eggs will really have to show its yolk to bring in the big bucks.

What sets it apart is its unabashed screwball style. The story is about a couple trying to fall in love again.

Poor book salesman Wen Yao resorts to playing the roles of various people to promote his self-made book, Guideline to the Newly Married.

Someone's suggestion that the book should have an accompanying DVD inspires him to make a racy flick. He persuades his wife, who is desperate to have a baby, to co-star. Upon its release, their "bedroom guide" is a huge success. But while it makes the couple wealthy, it also puts a huge strain on their marriage.

Director Ah Gan last Friday introduced leading cast members Guo Tao (top picture), Liu Xinyou and Yao Chen to promote the film's release in Shanghai, where the film was shot.

Leading actor Guo, who plays the role of the security chief Bao Shihong in Ning Hao's hit film Crazy Stone, says Wen Yao plays a small role in this new film, just as Bao did in Crazy Stone.

"The first time I read the script, I felt depressed rather than giggly," he says. "He is from the low caste of society, and his life is dull and helpless. But he still maintains an optimistic attitude and bears outside pressures for his wife and child."

Two Stupid Eggs also stars veteran Hong Kong actor Sam Lee and new mainland talents Yao Chen (TV series My Own Swordsman) and Huang Bo (Crazy Stone).

Yao, who has imitates Maggie Cheung in Wong Kar-wai's award-winning film, In the Mood for Love in Big Movie, says: "For me, performing in the movie was just like playing a game. I enjoyed myself and had great fun. I portray a woman between jobs who is dying to be an actress."

"It's time for us to be concerned about those central issues and real-life people around us," says director Ah Gan, dismissing what he considers the excessive portrayal of ancient China in film in recent years.

He also revealed that his Big Movie series will become a trilogy next year, with the third film starring Hong Kong actress Gigi Leung.

Big Movie 2 opens at cinemas citywide.

(China Daily 12/26/2007 page7)