Writer: Geraldine Ang

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Watch this if you liked: "I Not Stupid", "Money No Enough", "That One Not Enough", "One More Chance"

Director Jack Neo has a lot to smile about. With the launch of his highly anticipated sequel to "I Not Stupid", many Singaporean and Malaysian fans will definitely be saving their weekends to watch it with their family. After all, there's a lot one can relate to in this film.

Tom (Ashley Leong) is a 9-year-old boy having trouble getting his wealthy but busy parents (Jack Neo and Xiang Yun) to attend a school performance which features him as the lead actor. Jerry (Shawn Lee), Tom's older brother and a student in the 'normal stream' in secondary school, has the similar problem of relating to their parents as well.

Cheng Cai (Joshua Ang), Jerry's best friend also suffers from the same plight. Coming from a poorer background, he faces problems communicating with his widowed father, an ex-convict cripple convincingly played by Huang Yi-Liang. This scenario is exacerbated in school, where Cheng Cai and his "normal stream" classmates are constantly put down for their academic inabilities. With added pressure from both school and home, both teenagers Jerry and Cheng Cai join a street gang while Tom tries to reconcile his quarrelsome parents by resorting to crime.

Eventually, the adults begin to realise that the discontent exhibited by their children is largely due to the neglect of their emotional needs. Making huge sacrifices to regain their children's love, the parents begin to dedicate themselves to saving their kids from further mischief and isolation.

Shot in the heartlands of Singapore, this snazzy movie about alienated youth and overly stressed working parents echo the reality of today's materialistic global society. It closely relates to both young and old, and features an assortment of stereotypical characters such as hip grannies, a flamboyant coffee-shop auntie, an out-dated teacher, modern day yuppies, familiar street thugs, rowdy teenagers and adorably naive primary school children.

While "I Not Stupid Too" is no poster boy for speaking proper English or Mandarin, it's generous use of Hokkien, the predominant local Chinese dialect, speaks closely to Singaporeans' cultural experiences. Asian countries with a large mix of ethnicity will also appreciate the melting pot of languages used in the film.

Director Jack Neo skillfully uses families of two different background and classes to illustrate the necessity of communication within the family unit while demonstrating the dire consequences of empty dialogue and hence, lack of involvement of parents with their children.

"I Not Stupid Too" also illustrates how people often take the simple act of praise and affection for granted and reveals how individuals can be motivated or persuaded towards certain actions depending on the support given to them by their peers or family.

Amazingly funny and extremely touching at times, "I Not Stupid Too" showcases yet again the flexibility and talent of veteran comedian turned director, Jack Neo. Scenes in the movie that showed how conservative adults attempt to bridge the generation gap, as well as the use of hilarious language puns and creative special effects are sure to draw huge laughs from the audience.

Grab your whole family, friends, cousins, aunties and uncles to watch this film and after which be sure to have a nice heart to heart talk over peng-ah loti and kopi, yah!

Cinema Online, 23 September 2008