The Conman 2002 賭俠2002 (2002): The Time Nick Cheung Became a Gambling King After Losing a Bet, Eason Chan Got a Haircut, and Wong Jing Gave Us a Hero Who Was Born to Lose
The Gambler Who Was Born to Lose
Here's the setup: Nick Cheung plays a man who is cursed. He gambles, he loses. He bets, he loses. He's been losing his whole life. Then one day, his pregnant girlfriend is in trouble. He needs money fast. He makes one bet, against all odds, and wins. The curse is broken. Suddenly, he can't stop winning.
That's the premise of 賭俠2002 — a 2002 gambling comedy that tries to reboot the franchise without Andy Lau and without Stephen Chow. It doesn't quite work, but it's not a total disaster.
The film was directed by Wong Jing and released on November 21, 2002. It grossed HK$2.1 million at the box office — a massive drop from the series' heyday.
What Is It About?
The plot is classic Wong Jing.
Lee Ka-chun (Nick Cheung) is a man who has never won anything. His girlfriend, Ah Mei (Miki Yeung), is pregnant and being forced into prostitution by a loan shark. Lee Ka-chun needs money to save her.
He makes one bet. He wins.
The curse is lifted. He becomes a gambling king. He enters a high-stakes tournament with his best friend Chan Chi-lung (Eason Chan). He faces a villain who is also his rival. He wins. He loses. He wins again.
It's a mess. But it's a fun mess.
The Cast That Tried
Nick Cheung as Lee Ka-chun — the gambler who was born to lose. He's funny, charming, and completely out of his depth.
Eason Chan as Chan Chi-lung — the best friend who provides the comic relief. He's the most energetic part of the film.
Miki Yeung as Ah Mei — the pregnant girlfriend who needs saving. She's beautiful, but she's also completely wasted.
Wong Jing as himself — appears in a cameo. He always does.
Why It Matters
賭俠2002 is the film that killed the gambling comedy genre. It's not a bad film, but it's not a good one either. It's a film that tried to capture lightning in a bottle twice and failed.
The film holds a 5.5 on Douban. It's not beloved, but it's not hated. It's just... there.
Final Thought
賭俠2002 is a film about a man who was born to lose and finally learns to win. It's about love, friendship, and the power of a lucky bet.
And it's about the moment when Hong Kong gambling cinema finally ran out of luck.
Movie video in Cantonese with Chinese subtitles
Have you seen 賭俠2002? What's your favorite Nick Cheung performance? Let me know in the comments.
Tom De · The Movie Prince 🎬
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