Vulgaria – Review

Now this is offensive material. And…I like it! The film is about a Hong Kong film producer played by Chapman To who makes a living in sleaze. Feverish plotting and naughtiness galore, Vulgaria is a workplace comedy set in the world of moviemaking instead of the confines of an office. It’s pushed along briskly and they get value out of their small budget, with good craft aspects and likable players. The piece is framed by a film school lecture session. The English subtitlers battle with some of the material. But, in the end that is what made it even more funnier for me.

Enter wannabe starlet nicknamed Popping Candy. During a fellatio involving some popping candies, Popping Candy has unexpectedly gives To a great idea about how to make Tyrannosaurus’ dream comes true. By using CGI, he will combines Siu Yam-Yam’s face and Popping Candy’s busty body. His idea nevertheless prompted Siu Yam-Yam herself to agree for playing the role all over again. But of course, nothing comes smooth during the filmmaking process as To also juggles with his own personal problem involving his ex-wife and his little daughter Jacqueline. Even amid the naughty flourishes, with “Vulgaria,” Pang again shows himself to be a wise, playful chronicler of modern life.

The movie’s humor relies heavily on Cantonese slang and profanity. While many in the supporting cast play it way over the top, the material sort of lends itself to that approach. Not only is it a smart commentary on the state of Hong Kong cinema today, it’s way more creative, vigorous and fun than most of the bloated, predictable product out there. During those adventures, he also engages in a child custody battle with his wife, deals with a sexual lawsuit from a particularly idiotic former employee, and even tries to talk an insurance company into product placement in a film in which their company would finance Al Qaeda.

This one is surprisingly lively as a product of the largely dormant Hong Kong film industry. They offer a low comedy version of their industry which includes sex with farm animals, a heroine promoting a hand job video game, gangster finance and the seventies skin-flick star Shaw Ying Ying back by popular demand, in her sixties. Vulgaria is something definitely worth checking out for anyone who likes to feel a little naughty while giggling in the dark. The film was quite the pleasant surprise of a comedy. Check it out if you can.