Director: Gao Xixi
Notable Cast: Peter
Ho, Huang Zitao, Guli Nazha, Wang Xueqi, Choo Ja-hyun, Jack Kao, Long Meizi
There is a cliché phrase used that says ‘there are two
sides to every coin.’ Often, this is in reference to two separate ‘sides’ that
are based on the same foundation or part of the same core. But I’m sure you
know that. It’s why it’s a cliché phrase. Yet, this was a phrase that
repeatedly slid through my head as The Game Changer played out in front of me.
It’s a film that’s one part gangster drama and one part outlandish homage to
John Woo action films, embedded in the same film. While both sides, the dramatic and the
action packed, are part of the same film, they definitely feel as though they
are on opposite ends of said same film. Both sides have their own fun details,
including some concepts and visuals, but they feel disconnected. For what it’s
worth, The Game Changer is still a lot of fun and has plenty of elements to
admire, but as a cinematic whole is stumbles in trying to rise above being a
silly action film leaving the results as two sides, enjoyable on their own, yet hardly connected.