24/02/2026

LYFE TUESDAY | FEB 24, 2026

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0 Director: Matt Lai 0 Cast: Jack Lim, Jack Neo, Danny Lee, Jestinna Kuan, Ivory Chia, Qiu Yu Zhi, Terence Cao, Gurmit Singh, Daniel Cheah, Wayne Thong Wai Yean, Mavis Yan Weien, Keat Yoke Chen, Royce Chen Zhikang, Bernard Hew, Gan Jiang Han, Wan Wai Fun, Jeff Chin, Yumi Wong, Jovi Heng and Xiao Peihong. PLOT 2 E-VALUE 2 ACTING 3

MOVIE REVIEW

Ű BY GREGORY SHANE

H EAVILY marketed and highly anticipated, Ah Beng vs Liang Po Po featured Ah Beng (Jack Lim) and Liang Po Po (Jack Neo) as the main stars of the show. With a trailer that made the audience anticipate roaring laughter, everything seemed to be set in stone for success – the marketing, the trailer, the anticipation, and the support from Malaysians and Singaporeans. Alas, even with every spectacle setting them up for success, the show and its cast ultimately came up short with its over-the-top comedy and lack of a concrete plot. The trailer was not an adequate representation of how disappointing the movie was. While achieving a record of RM2.5 million on its opening day, most of its immediate success were due to locals who initially believed in the cast and crew. However, the movie flounders due to its plot, themes and lack of appropriate comedy. Starts strong but soon loses control Even with many faults, it does have a plus point. The first 10 minutes were nothing short of a good, fun comedic banter when Liang Po Po argues with a Malaysian-born receptionist Mai-Choi Lian (Mavis Yan Weien) when job seeking in Singapore. Even the misunderstanding with the job interviewer (Gurmit Singh) was nothing short of hilarious but things quickly took a slow, ever descending fall once Ah Beng comes into contact with Liang Po Po in Malaysia. After confusing Liang Po Po as a child kidnapper, Ah Beng starts off with a classic Malaysian versus Singapore banter, coinciding with the movie’s title but that soon develops into a poorly portrayed attempt of puppy love between Kim Po Loh (Qiu Yu Zhi) and Xiao Yun (Ivory Chia). Deviating from the movie’s foreshadowed showdown between Singapore and Malaysian credos, it spirals into a lackluster chase to save Kim and Xiao Yun from an organ trafficking syndicate. Throughout this chase, the plot goes from location hopping to discovering more clues about the syndicate, similarly to a poorly-planned treasure hunt, with uncomfortable comedy scenes of reminiscing

Ah Gee (Lee), Ah Beng (Lim), Cheng Jia Yi (Kuan) and Liang Po Po (Neo) chasing the kidnappers. Ah Beng vs Liang Po Po overstays welcome o Much anticipated, comedic movie falls short of tremendous potential

Ah Beng vs Liang Po Po movie poster.

nations to mere simple mentions does injustice to the overall delivery and impact of the film. Other parts such as the chase and rescue could have been omitted as their purpose were nothing other than to confuse and bore the audience. The producers failed to understand the movie is supposed to be about the misunderstandings, the dislike, the jealousy and the brotherhood between the two nations, which they have clearly lost sight of. Comedy was meant to deliver these themes in a lighthearted manner, but the slapstick and cringy humour – from Cheng, Ah Gee (Danny Lee), Kim and Xiao Yun – were too exaggerated and came off as uncomfortable rather than funny. Perhaps a more grounded approach and sticking to the elements of reality would let the audience understand its purpose and implications based on logic, while working their humour around that logic. Losing sight of logic and fitting in random scenes for the sake of laughs show the empty soul of the film and a non-committal eagerness to improve for quick success.

Singapore philosophies – was lost. Representing these philosophies are Ah Beng and Liang Po Po, whose actors did stick to their characters’ roles but were less of a philosophical representative of their nations – instead, went on a solo spree with little tacit understanding, making the final sentiment obsolete. The two main characters made for a good laugh in their first meeting, but that was it. There was so much more than Singaporeans coming to Malaysia to drive up prices in Johor and the “under table” deals in Malaysia – but the choice to confine the credo of both

brazen attempt at a hit-and-miss slapstick comedy. Attempting to end on a sentimental note that Singapore and Malaysia are basically “half-sisters” added no merit to the show and served as the final consolidation that director Matt Lai and scriptwriter Ivan Ho had lost direction for the plot and failed to see it for themselves. Where did it go wrong? While the plot bravely marched into chaos, the overall theme of the movie – Ah Beng vs Liang Po Po , a showdown between Malaysia and

used underwear and raunchy overweight women. The rescue of Xiao, at the resolution, by her father Ah Beng was a far cry from reality and brought absurdity when Ah Beng successfully begged the tycoon (Jovi Heng) who hired the syndicate to let his daughter Xiao Yun go. The sudden plot twist revealed the hidden underworld boss Six Fingers Devil (Daniel Cheah), Cheng Jia Yi (Jestinna Kuan) as Kim’s half-brother and a behind-the scenes boss as Cheng’s mother and the first wife of Kim’s father (Terence Cao) was a nothing short of a

Six-Fingers Devil (Cheah), Dart Tiger (Wayne Thong Wai Yean) and the tycoon (Heng) discussing an organ trading deal.

Xiao Yun (Chia) and Kim Po Loh (Qiu) interacting at school.