Too many genres give no flavor
Usually with a Chinese New Year movie, you can expect a romance or a comedy. Cat and Mouse tries to be both one, with some martial arts scenes. Sadly, it doesn't really hit the target, being just average everywhere.
The comedy part clearly lacks efficiency. Cat and Mouse will make you smile, but not really laugh. The fight part is the same. It's not too bad, but you know that with a good action director, it would become much more efficient. There is not rythm in the few fights, when the same ones were much more impressive in some other movies. The romance is also average, lacking originality and development, even if Gordon Chan's directing efforts are sometimes convincing.
So when you look at the team behind the movie, it's difficult not to have some regrets. Gordon Chan still knows how to direct, and some shots are really beautiful. The cast is also providing a good performance, with a surprising Anthony Wong (as judge Bao) and a lot of famous supporting actors. Andrew Lau delivers also a very nice work for the cinematography, and the movie doesn't look cheap with its genuine sets. But still, the spark is quite simply not there. This will probably be a "see and forget" attempt for most of the viewers. Not painful though, but not really memorable.
