Wong Kar-Wai Before the Mood Struck

Read Time:5 Minute, 30 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Rosa
–

Genre: Action, Comedy, Hong Kong Cinema
Year Released: 1986, 88 Films Blu-ray 2025
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director(s): Tung Cho “Joe” Cheung
Writer(s): Wong Kar-wai, Barry Wong
Cast: Yuen Biao, Lowell Lo, Lu Hsiao-Fen, Kara Hui
Where to Watch: available December 9, 2025. Pre-order your copy here: www.88-films.myshopify.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: ROSA opens with a chaotic, good-natured confidence that helped define mid-’80s Hong Kong action comedies: momentum, humor, and officers sprinting toward a case they may not fully understand. It’s a setup that suggests mayhem, anchored by Yuen Biao at maximum physicality. What the film actually delivers is a loose-limbed comedy that circles its premise for almost an hour before unlocking the exact thing audiences came for — a tightly choreographed fight sequence that proves why everyone involved is still remembered.

Taken at face value, ROSA is about two recent police academy graduates assigned to track down a missing informer. Their only lead is Rosa, his girlfriend, who unintentionally becomes the pivot point for romance, rivalry, and looming danger. But the film’s structure has little interest in urgency. Instead, the plot is broken into a collection of comedic digressions and jokes, including elaborate mah-jong sequences, relationship misunderstandings, and extended comic routines designed to carry the tone, not the story.

ROSA knows exactly who it has and how to use them. Biao is the film’s anchor — nimble, dead-serious in the middle of chaos, and always one well-timed gesture away from a laugh. His performance exists somewhere between silent comedy and fight choreography, built on physical setups, timing, and a surprising sweetness. Lowell Lo, playing the short-fused counterpart, leans hard into loud and funny frustration. It’s a divisive performance because the humor is broad by design, and depending on your tolerance for relentless mugging, he’s either stealing scenes or stretching them longer than needed.

Then there’s Kara Hui, one of the great unsung forces of Hong Kong cinema. When she enters the picture, the movie feels more grounded. She plays off Biao with a precision that’s noticeably different from Lo’s approach. When the film allows her to shift from support into combat, her skill is immediately clear. Even in short bursts, she reminds viewers why her work is so deeply respected. Paired with Dick Wei — whose presence alone signals the tone shift — the climax becomes a demonstration of craft: movement, strikes, and an attention to storytelling through choreography instead of dialogue.

That warehouse fight matters not just because of its execution, but because of what it represents in the timeline of Hong Kong cinema. This was a period when action comedies were approaching critical mass. The Lucky Stars films, the Pom Pom series, and dozens of smaller productions all combined slapstick with stunts. ROSA sits midstream in that evolution: still relying on extended comedy routines, but showing glimpses of a refinement that would lead to better-balanced genre films. If you trace the line forward, you see how humor would evolve into polished action storytelling.

The surprise for many viewers is seeing Wong Kar-wai listed as co-writer. His presence adds curiosity — the future director of IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE and CHUNGKING EXPRESS writing a buddy-cop comedy built on slapstick. That alone has helped ROSA gain interest over time. Looking closer, you won’t find the mature emotional density he would later become known for, but there are faint hints: unexpected tenderness in a moment of downtime, affection shaped by awkward longing, and the idea of love emerging through chaos. It’s not thematic, but it’s tonal — a younger creative voice testing the edges of character imperfection.

For fans of Yuen Biao and Kara Hui, their charisma, physical storytelling, and sheer presence create value even when the movie slows down. For viewers coming in cold, especially those unfamiliar with the era's shorthand, the experience can feel uneven. The film isn’t trying to be a classic; it’s trying to entertain an audience through familiar beats. Time shifts how those rhythms land.

The new restoration from 88 Films does the movie a wonderful favor. Clean visuals and remastered audio allow the stunt work to breathe, highlight the physical skill of the performers, and make smaller gestures clearer. For collectors of Hong Kong cinema, this is exactly the kind of title that benefits from boutique attention: a film that sits at the edge of significance, bolstered by context, packaging, and clarity.

ROSA isn’t essential Hong Kong cinema, but it’s an enjoyable snapshot of a transitional moment. The comedy is all over, the pacing is uneven, and the plot is thin — but the performers elevate it all. When the focus narrows and the final fight unfolds, everything, even briefly, aligns into that unmistakable magic where movement, character conflict, and humor share the same breath. It may take a long road to get there, but the destination is worth it.

For anyone exploring beyond the classics, ROSA is a meaningful stop — a reminder that creativity doesn’t always arrive perfected. Sometimes it shows up loud, messy, charming, and armed with just enough talent to make the trip worthwhile.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching for 'Overly Honest Reviews'.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please don't hesitate to say hello or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of 88 FILMS, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive complimentary items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl Records, Books, and more. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support as you navigate these links.