Based on a popular, but short-lived due to controversy and censorship, late-night TV series from the mid-1970's, Hello, Late Homecomers is a trilogy of comedic stories, each centering on Lo Yuen (who plays a different character in each tale) and his problems with the ladies. While the end results really aren't all that hilarious, they're not as groan-inducing as some Hong Kong comedies can tend to be, either. Also, for fans of John Woo who want to see what he was doing before making Chow Yun-Fat run around in slow motion holding two pistols, this is a film worth checking out.

Woo is actually one-third of the writing/directing team here, with Lau Tin-Chi and Louis Sit penning and helming their own segments. Lau's, which has Lo betting his friend (Karl Maka) that he can bed a pretty woman within twenty-four hours, is the weakest of the three, not only because some of the material is painfully unfunny (unless you're into jokes about date rape) but Maka's over-acting is almost unbearable in parts. Sit's story that is about Lo managing two mistresses and a wife is a bit better, but is overcomplicated to the point that the story's resolution feels rushed and tacked on.

Woo's entry, which finishes off the movie, is the strongest of the three. In this one, Lo is tired of his harpy wife and wants to marry his secretary, so he hires a hitman to teach him various methods to off people. A lot of time here is devoted to Lo setting up traps, and perhaps should have been trimmed somewhat, but the end payoff is actually very funny, especially if you're someone (like this reviewer) who grew up watching classic Warner Brothers cartoons. It's interesting to note that at even this early point in his career, Woo's western influences were very obvious, and the way in which he used them already made his works stand apart from many of his compatriots.

RATING: 5