To know Young and Dangerous is to know 1990s Hong Kong cinema. This pulp action franchise, which started in 1995, was the biggest cultural phenomenon on local screen. Based on a popular local comic book, and starring a string of white-hot young actors, it presented the ongoing twists and struggles of an up-and-coming triad gang. By the time the franchise died
down, it had resulted in six main films plus seven prequels, spin-offs, and parodies.

Nostalgia has always been a big seller, not simply in Hollywood but in Chinese-language film markets as well. In 2018 four of the main stars of Young and Dangerous – Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan, Jerry Lamb, and Michael Tse – were re-assembled in a suspiciously familiar action film about a gang of orphans who grew up together on the streets. Instead of joining organised crime, they are taken under the wing of the elderly ‘Papa’ (Eric Tsang) to
become good-hearted mercenaries-for-hire.

Golden Job is a globe-trotting, over-the-top action film. There is a sense of Mission: Impossible about it, but also a lot of Fast & Furious and overall retroactive sheen of Handover-era Hong Kong cinema. The emotions are melodramatic. Themes of loyalty and brotherhood dominate. Ekin Cheng’s hair is as lustrous and flowing as ever. Asides from the two decades of the cast getting older and the use of previously unavailable CG effects, this is essentially Young and Dangerous all over again.

That is both good and bad. It is enjoyable to see Cheng, Chan and friends back together again, in slightly remixed but comfortably familiar roles. At the same time, it makes the entire film seem rather out of date. It looks contemporary, but the story feels 20 years old. It was 16 years since stunt coordinator turned TV host Chin Kar-lok last directed a feature film (2002’s adventure sequel No Problem 2). He returned to direct this movie, and it is clear he has not further developed his craft in the interim. This is solid and capable work, but nothing feels exceptional. Definitely nothing feels new.

The lead cast remain charismatic with a great screen presence. Eric Tsang makes for a cheerful mentor, however with the cloud of historical assault allegations levelled against him he is now something of an uncomfortable presence. Midway through the film Japanese action heavyweight Kurata Yasuaki pops into frame as a kindly sake maker who befriends Papa in his retirement. It seems an odd little cameo until Bill and his mercenaries show up; then it all leads to one of the film’s most enjoyable moments.

If you enjoy the Hong Kong action films of yesteryear, or if you’re keen to discover just what they were like back then, Golden Job is a nostalgic delight. It has plenty of action, humour, and overwrought emotion. It is a hugely pleasing victory lap for a great generation of movie stars. It also fails to bring anything new to the table, and that ultimately lets it down a little. I didn’t want to revisit older glories so much as see this cast build new ones.

This review was originally published in a slightly different form at FilmInk.