Hong Kong, China · 2008
Rated PG · 1h 26m
Director Stephen Chow
Starring Stephen Chow, Xu Jiao, Kitty Zhang, Lam Tze-chung
Genre Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Science Fiction
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Ti, a really poor construction worker that struggles to keep his son, Dicky, in private school, mistakes an orb he finds in a junk yard for a toy which proves to be much, much more once the young boy starts to play with it.
A bit of a letdown. The manic comedian who has gained fans worldwide for his outrageous slapstick and special effects-driven antics in "Kung Fu Hustle" and "Shaolin Soccer" takes a backseat this time - and that's part of the problem: This is lesser Chow because there is less Chow.
This utterly beguiling foray into family comedy from Hong Kong director Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer) may be the tribute to Spielberg's "E.T. Extra-Terrestrial" the gleefully childlike filmmaker has had up his sleeve forever.
The overall feel is Hong Kong to the core…which means CJ7, like the first 25 minutes or so of "Shaolin Soccer," doesn't make many allowances to Western sensibilities.
The New York Times by Jeannette Catsoulis
A devilishly entertaining curveball thrown at unsuspecting family audiences.
Los Angeles Times by Kevin Crust
As clumsy and awkward as his previous films were stylishly silly.
Heavy on slapstick and may appeal to very young viewers who won't need to bother much with the subtitles.
Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman
Trivial and charmless.
The A.V. Club by Tasha Robinson
C7J isn't as cutesy as "Batteries Not Included" or "Short Circuit," or as grim as "Gremlins," though it resembles them all in its jerky, semi-comic look at the havoc and helpfulness of weirdo artificial life.
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