Film Review: Table for Six 2 飯戲攻心2 (2024) Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia 🇦🇺)
As far as sequel is concerned, last year box office success “Table for Six” comes with plenty of expectations. Despite missing super box office star Dayo Wong, the film works extremely well when it is focused on relationships, family and the all the good and bad associated with it. It is this infernal of emotions one after another that makes director Sunny Chan so effective as a communicator as it simply translates directly to the audience like gold. Whilst not as unique as the original being set in one location. The sequel stands up on its own enormously well.
The ensemble cast remains the same key players in Stephy Tang, Louis Cheung, Ivana Wong, Min Chen Lin and Peter Chan. It is these core individual characters that make the film so effectively as we know all the characters so well already and their personality and interplay against each other are so natural that any funny moments simply works because of the comic timing. Stephy Tang impresses in a career trajectory from the past few years as she transform into an award winning actress. Tang requires to shoulder a lot of emotions and responses as her relationship with Louis Cheung is given one test after another. Ivana Wong brings the comic demeanour and timing that perfectly compliments the insanely talented Peter Chan. Of course the cute radar goes overload with Min Chen Lin whenever she pops up on screen and she can act too. Adding to the mix are veteran oldies in the form of Tse Kwan Ho, Helen Law and Bowie Fung who are all amazing. Jeffrey Ngai impresses as idol and complicated long lost brother of Stephy Tang.
All in all, “Table for Six 2” simply works so well as connects with the audience like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Family, relationships, love, dreams are all intertwined making the film extremely well made for the lunar Chinese New Year audiences. Director Sunny Chan knows the target audience well and the in process, the film easily resonates directly into the hearts and minds. Bring a few tissues with you.
I rated it 9/10
Director
Sunny Chan
Cast
Stephy Tang, Louis Cheung, Ivana Wong, Min Chen Lin, Peter Chan, Tse Kwan Ho