Watch All for the Winner

In the year 1990, Hong Kong gave birth to one of the classic comedy movies titled All for the Winner. Directed by Jeff Lau and Corey Yuen, this movie hilariously blends two genres, comedy and action, to create a phenomenal piece of cinema. The movie stars Stephen Chow, Man-Tat Ng, and Man Cheung. All for the Winner follows a story about a former gambler named Sing (Stephen Chow) who retires from gambling after losing to his rival. Despite his former addiction, he uses his psychic ability to predict which horses will win in races. One day he inadvertently saves a small-time gambler, Small Potato (Man-Tat Ng), who later introduces him to his sister, who is engaged to Sing's former rival. Love complicates every situation, but to make things worse, Sing gets dragged back into the world of gambling when he is recruited for a high-stakes competition.

The movie's opening scene shows the protagonist, Sing, confidently predicting the outcome of a horse race which showcases the extent of his supernatural powers. He cannot use his telepathic abilities to enhance his performance in any other way. Still, he takes on a job as an informant in a horse race to earn a background for interpreting horse-racing telepathically. Sing's loyal friends Scabby (Ng Man Tat) and his sister (Sharla Cheung) join him in this endeavour.

Despite the initial reluctance of Sing, he gets involved in a high-stakes gambling competition orchestrated by an evil and powerful gang. Participants are supposed to predict the horses that will win in the day's races, with the most successful one bagging the grand prize. Sing ensures the victory goes to his bookie friend to avoid getting into any trouble with the gang. Although slightly unethical, it's one of the few ways in which the trio (Sing, Scabby, and the sister) can raise $3mn to win her a heart transplant. However, the gang soon gets suspicious and starts to intimidate Sing and his comrades.

As the story progresses, relationships get complicated, and the stakes become higher. The audience engaging the movie is drawn in by an engaging blend of gory action scenes and comedic eccentricities. The performance of the main cast is remarkable, and they enable the audience to care deeply about their situation. Stephen Chow injects comic flair and humour into his acting, making the film genuinely hilarious. His signature style, a mixture of slapstick and subtle sarcastic humour, is on full display throughout.

The martial arts choreography in the movie is top-notch, and it demonstrates how a well-crafted action scene can add an extra dimension to a comedy film. The sequences are incredibly entertaining and never feel out of place within the movie. The movie's directors, Jeff Lau and Corey Yuen, use their knowledge of comedy and action films to create a unique cinematic experience that is both delightful and exciting.

All for the Winner is a charming and entertaining film that delivers an excellent balance of comedy and action. Anyone who loves slapstick comedy and martial arts films will have a great time laughing and enjoying the movie. It's an exciting blend of genres that many filmmakers would struggle to bring to life as well as Jeff Lau and Corey Yuen did with this comedy classic. The movie was so successful that a sequel was later released in 1992, The Top Bet, which continues to deliver the same comedic charm and martial arts action that audiences have come to love about Stephen Chow's signature movies.

All for the Winner is still held in high regard by critics and audiences worldwide, even thirty years since its release. It is an example of how good storytelling and masterful direction can combine to create an unforgettable movie. It makes a great case for middle-range-budget movies that aspire to reach the upper echelons of cinematic history. One certainly will enjoy the movie and cherish it as a timeless classic.