Mermaid swims to a box-office bonanza

Chow, a Hong Kong bit player who morphed into a superstar in the early 1990s, is known for his own brand of humor, which at first glance is similar to that of Jim Carrey. While most comedy is local and fails to overcome geographical boundaries, Chow's works were not only welcomed by mainland audiences, but given a philosophical spin in interpretations when they were avidly consumed across China's college campuses.

Chow, who produced and directed The Mermaid but did not star in it, is one of the Hong Kong filmmakers who have been most successful in adapting to the mainland culture.

Instead of churning out several pictures a year, he has slowed down the pace to around one film in four years, perfecting every joke and detail until the last minute. When he was criticized by some of his Hong Kong peers for being "difficult", fans would jump to his defense, and his work, with its appeal to those across the taste spectrum, is probably the best answer.

For The Mermaid, Chow also pulled off a marketing stunt unprecedented in showbiz. The customary pre-screenings, designed to generate buzz, were called off. Instead, he and his cast embarked on a 20-city promotion blitz. From the reception of all his recent films, the king of comedy, a moniker from the title of his somewhat autobiographical 1999 film, has not lost his mojo, and is still at the peak of his game.