''The Magic Touch'' (Chinese: 神算) is a 1992 Hong Kong

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

written, produced and directed by

Michael Hui Michael Hui Koon-man (born ; 3 September 1942) (also known as Mr Boo!) is a Hong Kong actor, comedian, scriptwriter and director. He is the eldest of the four Hui brothers (together with Ricky, Sam, and Stanley) who were prominent figures ...

, and stars Hui himself alongside

Leon Lai Leon Lai Ming SBS BBS MH (born 11 December 1966), is a Hong Kong actor, film director, businessman and Cantopop singer. He is one of the " Four Heavenly Kings" of Hong Kong pop music. He uses his Chinese name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming", whi ...

Plot

Hui Wai-kuk (

) tells people's fortunes by feeling their bones. In reality, he is a scam who is able to read minds of others because he has gathered information about them in advance; he is able to make a lot of money. The wife of Commissioner David Ho (

Philip Chan Philip Chan may refer to: * Philip Chan (actor) Philip Chan Yan-kin (born 25 January 1945) is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, screenwriter and music composer of Taishan area origin. Career He worked as a Royal Hong Kong Police F ...

) of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is suspicious that her husband is cheating on her. Hui tells Mrs. Ho the name of the mistress. She then scolds Ho in his office. Ho sends junior assessor Yau Ho-kei (

) to investigate Hui's income. Yau does not work seriously, but he wants to stand out. During the investigation, Hui sustains a brain injury causing his coma. After he wakes up, he discovers that he has gained super abilities, being able to feel people's bones and see their future. At this time, the IRD is investigating businessman Hung Sam (Sunny Fang) for tax evasion, but the case is progressing slowly. Yau arranges for Hui to get close to Hui for a chance "touch" to find out where Hung's accounting book is hidden. At first, Hung thought Hui and Yau were gay and avoided them at all costs. But after discovering that Hui is a fortune teller, he hires the two, greatly trusts them, and reveals to them about his drug business. Yau then reports information about Hung's drug business to Commissioner Ho. The case is cracked, Yau is then promoted to investigation superintendent and Hui, having assisted in the case, does not have to pay the tax that he owed for many years.

Cast

as Hui Wai-kuk *

as Yau Ho-kei * Ricky Hui as Fat * Winnie Lau as Yeuk-lan *Sunny Fang as Hung Sam *Chan Hiu-ying as May * Dayo Wong as William *Michael Dinga as Senior Tax Inspector Lam *

as David Ho *

Carrie Ng Carrie Ng (born 1963) is a Hong Kong actress well known for both Category-III cult and mainstream films. She won Best Actress at the 1993 Golden Horse Film Festival awards for her performance in ''Remains of a Woman'' and Best Supporting Actre ...

as Inspector Fong Fong-fong *

Yonfan Yonfan (born 14 October 1947) is a Hong Kong film director and photographer. Biography He was born in Wuhan, Hubei, Republic of China. As the Yang family emigrated from mainland China, they lived first in Hong Kong for 3 years, and then moved to ...

as Man in red at race course VIP *Jamie Luk as One of Hung's thugs *Wan Fat as One of Hung's thugs *Wong Kwong-fai as One of Hung's thugs *Lau Siu-cheung as Large Nurse *Wong Man-shing as Rapist *Lui Tat as Hospital patient *

Tin Kai-man Tin Kai-Man, also spelled Tin Kai-mun, is a Hong Kong actor and production manager, most notable for his role in '' Shaolin Soccer''. A well-known friend of Stephen Chow, he began acting in his films with the 1994 '' Hail the Judge''. Tin also work ...

as Hospital patient *

Teddy Chan Teddy Chan or Teddy Chen Tak Sum () is a Hong Kong film director, producer, writer and actor. Filmography Filmography as director, art director and other positions:

as Bartender *Eddie Chan as Mr. Cheung *Zevia Tong as Mrs. Cheung *Chan Choi-lin as Mrs. David Ho *David Lai *Sing Yan as Shapi Dog *Hui Fan as Kei's mom *Chan Wing-chiu as Tax inspector *Cheng Chong as Rape victim *Wong Man-kit *Jacky Cheung *Lee Tung-yue *Yu Ngai-ho as Balding gangster *Lam Ying-kit *Cheung Kam-chuen *Leung Kei-hei as Bettor at race VIP lounge *Jameson Lam as Bettor at race VIP lounge *Hui Si-man as Bettor at race VIP lounge *Jim James as Bar customer *Ho Chi-moon as Bar customer *Hau Woon-ling as Sixth Grammy *John Cheung as John *Peter So as DJ *Ernest Mauser as Priest at clinic *Fei Pak as Policeman

Theme song

*''Two Hearts Know'' (兩心知) **Composer: R. Aska **Lyricist: Jolan Heung **Singer:

Reception

Critical

Andrew Saroch of
Far East Films
' rated the film 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "''The Magic Touch'' features a constantly watchable narrative and a number of hilarious scenes; foremost among these is Hui's attempts to feel the villain's knuckles in a number of different and highly amusing situations."

Box office

The film grossed HK$36,399,307 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical frun from 24 January to 19 February 1992 in

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

. It remains as

's highest-grossing film in his career.

References

External links

* *
The Magic Touch
' at Hong Kong Cinemagic * {{DEFAULTSORT:Magic Touch 1992 films 1992 comedy films Hong Kong slapstick comedy films 1990s Cantonese-language films Films directed by Michael Hui Films set in Hong Kong Films shot in Hong Kong 1990s Hong Kong films