Some people would use such an ability to uphold law or justice. But the protagonist of the new film “All In” finds a much less noble (albeit much more relatable) purpose: unleashing it at the poker table for profit!
Meet Cheng Jialeng (Jack Lim). Since he was a child, he has been able to see lights over a person’s head that change colours anytime they lie. Able to see through even the most well-crafted bluffs and stoic poker faces, Cheng soon becomes a rich champion of the cards.
Despite this, his domestic life is in shambles, as Cheng finds his relationship with his wife Zhiyu (Xiao Yu) breaking down.
Everything changes, however, when he meets the simple-minded Xiaoqi (Namewee), a restaurant worker. By a twist of fate, Cheng’s abilities get transferred to Xiaoqi, just before he is supposed to play a major tournament against Wei Yifu (Phillip Keung), a sinister and superbly skilled poker master.
Cheng must now train the honest-to-a-fault Xiaoqi to face Yifu. Will he rise to become a king of poker and ace the tournament – or will he be revealed to be nothing more than just a joker?
Produced by Asia Tropical Films, “All In” promises lots of slapstick comedy and hilarious antics, as well as touching moments of friendship and romance. Look out for cameo appearances by several well-known actors and comedians, too!
Several members of the cast, alongside director Matt Lai, recently met with the media to promote the film and share their thoughts on the production.
Lai said a major theme of the movie is truth and lies, and how in certain cases, deception might not be an altogether bad thing.
“We tell lies in our lives almost every day, sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. But when you tell the truth, the important thing is that it comes from the heart,” he explained.
He revealed that the crew had used various innovative cinematic techniques to capture the thrills and tensions of a high-stakes poker tournament, including a robotic arm to capture some very unique viewpoints.
Actor Lim added that he spent many hours watching poker tournaments to get into character. He emphasised, however, that “All In” was not just about just winning at cards: “It’s about human relationships and why we should appreciate them.”
Actor, filmmaker and rapper Namewee shared that he had enjoyed filming the movie, although he struggled during his character’s fight scenes.
“I’m not as fit as I used to be, so it was very tiring to shoot those. The editor did a very good job, though, of making the scenes look cool,” the 41-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.
His favourite moments to shoot were the romantic night-time motorcycle rides his character takes with his love interest, the online influencer Mimi (Yumi Wong).
“We shot those in KL at about 2-3 am. It was very cold, and there were people spraying water in the air to make it rain. We were wet and freezing, but it was still a fun experience. I have never done anything like that before.”
Namewee also contributed a song to the movie’s soundtrack. “Superhero”, which he performed with Lim, is about how people are inspired to change the world as children, but often give up on their dreams as they enter adulthood.
He and the rest of the cast wish for audiences to enjoy the hilarious shenanigans of “All In”, which they believe is the perfect movie with which to celebrate the upcoming festivities.
“I hope people will come and see it and have fun. It’s a great show for Chinese New Year; parents can come with their children and find something to enjoy,” Namewee concluded.
‘All In’ begins screening in cinemas nationwide from tomorrow.