As for movies that combine heists with magic à la “Now You See Me”, you might be hard-pressed to think of a Malaysian film that has tackled this premise in recent years – perhaps ever.
Enter director Adrian Teh’s “Magik Rompak”, a wonderful concoction of comedy, high-octane action, plot twists, impossible feats and, of course, magic. It’s an enjoyable watch with a solid plot, endearing characters, and pretty good special effects.
The film, which runs for 134 minutes, stars Zul Ariffin, Sharnaaz Ahmad, Amelia Henderson and Nadhir Nasar, with Yasmin Hani, Miller Khan, Fabian Loo, Elvina Mohamad, and Singaporean actor Tay Ping-Hui in supporting roles.
Teh, the man behind “Paskal: The Movie”, “Wira”, and “Malbatt: Misi Bakara”, is not one who shies away from trying something new. “If you look at my past works, they’re all from different genres. I am always in a constant search for new topics.
“When I realised there hadn’t been a film about magic, I wondered how I could bring that story to the Malaysian audience,” he shared during a recent press conference.
“Magik Rompak” follows Hadi (Sharnaaz), a former master magician who reappears after four years with a daring plan: to steal the legendary “Hati Kesuma” jewel from corrupt tycoon Tan Sri Hamdan (Tay).
Teaming up with “Night Spark”, a trio of elite thieves, Hadi decides to pull off the ultimate illusion by disguising the heist as a grand magic show. But when betrayal strikes, the perfect trick unravels, forcing them to outwit enemies on all sides to escape with the jewel… and their lives.
What’s exciting about “Magik Rompak” is watching the four leads flex their comedic chops – and actually nail it. Zul and Sharnaaz, usually cast as resident tough guys, get their fair share of dangerous fights, but also get to show off their comic timing.
It’s also refreshing to see Henderson in a role with more substance, stepping out of her usual “pretty girl” or “damsel in distress” box. As expert hacker Wawa, she more than holds her own, and even gets to take down some bad guys.
The weakest link, sadly, is Nadhir. His character is boxed in as pure comic relief with little depth, which is a shame given how much range he showcased in “Project: High Council”.
The film has all the classic heist-film ingredients, but Teh makes the story feel completely his own. The action is sharp and exciting – especially a highway chase in the third act that keeps you glued to your seat.
On top of that, Teh sprinkles in his trademark humour, including a cheeky superhero nod in the climax that audiences will spot right away.
At the press conference, Teh and his team revealed that they had consulted a group of seasoned magicians for the film’s illusions.
In “The Prestige”, Hugh Jackman’s character famously explains that every trick has three parts: the pledge, the turn, and the prestige.
Here, the pledge is real magic; the turn is a camera pan; and the prestige is… editing software. One can’t help but wonder how much stronger the film would have been with genuine sleight of hand.
All in all, “Magik Rompak” has its rough edges, but the fun is in the spectacle. Teh may not have pulled a rabbit out of the hat, but he’s definitely pulled off a daring new trick for Malaysian cinema.
As of press time, ‘Magik Rompak’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.