Now in his thirtieth year in the film business, with hundreds of movies under his belt, Wong Jing has been accused of being many things: lazy, pandering, vulgar, and other not-so-nice terms. But he has rarely been called boring. Despite what many people think of Wong's pictures, he can usually create something that will at least hold the audience's interest for ninety minutes. Wong's 2004 release Sex and the Beauties is the proverbial exception that proves the rule. From beginning to end, this is the sort of movie that is going to have you aching for a Red Bull just so you'll be able to stay awake.

Like many of Wong's lesser efforts, Sex and the Beauties has been inspired, or, rather, ripped off, from another intellectual property. This time, it's the vapid American television series Sex and the City. For those of you fortunate enough to have never seen the original material, basically, the movie follows a group of shrill and gossipy women as they try to find love in the big city, and hilarity and romance ensues. Well, that was probably Wong's intention, but nothing of the sort happens here.

Most of the cast looks positively bored, or in the case of veterans like Carina Lau and Tony Leung Ka-Fai, downright embarrassed to be in this production. This translates to all of the jokes falling flat. Though, frankly, with a script that seems to depend on women uttering Cantonese curse words as the sole comedic artery, even if the actors were trying to get an Oscar, the comedy still wouldn't be funny even to a stoner that just ripped his fifth bongload of the afternoon. The lack of effort from the actors also translates into the romantic aspects; there is simply no chemistry between anyone involved, especially a couple of the more ludicrous relationships, such as the one between Athena Chu and Hui Siu-Hung.

I should admit that I am not a fan at all of Sex and the City or romantic comedies in general. However, judging on most other reviews around the net, even those who are normally predisposed to enjoying this type of picture walked away after a viewing of Sex and the Beauties shaking their heads in disgust. This movie is supposed to be a funny, sexy, and romantic, but it offers none of these attributes, instead merely alternating between being boring and annoying, ultimately fulfilling itself as a total waste of your time and/or money.

RATING: 3