After directing Michael Wong ten times in two years in the New Option sub-par special forces "action" series, one gets the sense that Clarence Fok must have called in some favors in order to helm something -- anything -- other than something featuring Mikey in a SDU outfit. After re-teaming with his mentor Wong Jing, Fok got behind the lens for Don't Open Your Eyes, a ghost/comedy hybrid that isn't anything great, but at least the audience isn't subjected to Mr. Wong mangling dialogue in both Cantonese and English.

Anyhow, the star here is Alex Fong, who plays Seven, a detective who is scared of pretty much everything. So he's not exactly elated when his dying aunt (Helena Law Lan) tells him he can now see ghosts. Factor in Seven's recent shooting of the nattily-named criminal, Killer (Roderick Lam), and his transfer to a near-deserted police station under the tutelage of amateur Taoist priest Bing (Yuen Wah), and wacky hijinks and hilarity ensues.

Well, the proceedings aren't exactly wacky or all that hilarious for the most part. The jokes thrown at the audience range from mildly funny (Yuen Wah dressing up as General Kwan to scare away ghosts) to outrightly headache-inducing annoying (pretty much any word falling from Sammy Leung's mouth). Despite the thin level of comedy and really non-existent level of scares -- Clarence Fok's idea of creating the creeps seems to be overusing shakycam, strobe lights, and thunder sound effects -- the proceedings are still watchable because most of the actors involved, especially Alex Fong and Yuen Wah, take matters seriously enough that the audience actually develops some attachment to their characters.

It also helps matters (at least from a straight dude's point of view) that, as per many Wong Jing productions, the cast is stacked with some nice purveyors of eye candy, including Winnie Leung and Pinky Cheung. Unfortunately, there are no "points" shown, with the extent of displayed naughty bits being some side-boobage. But at any rate, for as much as Don't Open Your Eyes feels like it is just another film with Wong Jing's name attached to it that is just going through the motions, it does enough right that it's worth checking out for a rainy day rental if you're a fan of the stars involved.

RATING: 5