Twins Mission Film Review

Sheer loyalty and affection for the Twins has brought us to this one. Not only do the two lovelies represent the beloved Xbox 360 in Asia, they've also grown quite a bit since the early 2000's, when they were unbelievably annoying in fare like Summer Breeze of Love.

Intervening years have seen them partake in more involved projects and become deeper rooted in "serious" acting, to wit Charlene's recent Diary and Gillian's role in 49 Days. Well, maybe this has worked better for A-Sa (Charlene to the uninitiated), but you get our drift.

Rejoice, then, for all that progress has now been swiftly given a kick in the boot and almost sent packing with Twins Mission, third entrance in the eponymous Twins cinematic franchise, and one that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the previous two.

While the first Twins Effect was a capable film, starring favorite sons Ekin Cheng, Edison Chen and Anthony Wong, this new release has hardly any meaningful highlights to recommend it. Stroywise, you get the same old tricks and excuses to send the dashing heroines by way of all kinds of menacing baddies and hazardous situations, with little else going on.

This flies in the face of the talent deposited within. Aside from the maturing Twins themsleves, who are not as irritating as their younger selves from six years ago but hazardously close, Mission has Sammo Hung with his cigar-munching habits, a fact that has long-standing martial arts fanatics cheer as he enters the stage. However, even mighty Sammo can only do so much, and he's been in a couple of duds over the last few years. Here he's just as affable as ever, albeit in too limited a capacity to affect salvation.

Similarly, Wu Jing brings his usual subdued charm and kick-ass gong fu prowess to the fore, and may every action star be like him. But potent he may be, one thing he's not is a superman. There's no helping a run of the mill movie even with all the skilled fighting in the world.