CrimeDrama

Better Luck Tomorrow

- Never underestimate an overachiever.

A group of over-achieving Asian-American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extra-curricular criminal activities.

Release Date : 2002-01-12

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Cherry Sky FilmsDay O ProductionsHudson River EntertainmentMTV FilmsTrailing Johnson ProductionsParamount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Ben Manibag

Original Name : Parry Shen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Virgil Hu

Original Name : Jason Tobin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Han Lue

Original Name : Sung Kang

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stephanie Vandergosh

Original Name : Karin Anna Cheung

Gender : Female

Character Name : Daric Loo

Original Name : Roger Fan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Biology Teacher

Original Name : Jerry Mathers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Steve Choe

Original Name : John Cho

Gender : Male

Character Name : Takashi

Original Name : Aaron Takahashi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kenny Vandergosh

Original Name : Darian Weiss

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rachel

Original Name : Ariadne Shaffer

Gender : Female

Character Name : Porn Jock

Original Name : James Isaac Barry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hot Dog Planet Costumer

Original Name : Shirley Jean Anderson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ulden

Original Name : Alden Ray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jock (Uncredited)

Original Name : Justin Lin

Gender : Male

Reviews

r96sk

@r96sk

2024-09-18

I found this unconvincing. Gotta respect those associated with getting 'Better Luck Tomorrow' off the ground, reportedly with big help from one MC Hammer - I didn't expect to read that! However, I didn't like it sadly. You can tell if has a competent director in charge with Justin Lin, though everything to do with the plot and characters just didn't do it for me. I found the story too far-fetched, personally. I have no issue watching stuff that is nonsensical, but when it is along those lines then it has to be very entertaining and this wasn't, for me. The actors didn't quite work either, not even Sung Kang as Han - who was the sole reason why I wanted to watch this, given the (loose) 'The Fast and the Furious' connection. Parry Shen is underwhelming, his voice-overs are particularly dull - he is fairly likeable, I'm just not sure Shen (or his character) were a wise choice for lead. Jason Tobin as Virgil is also a tad irritating (as intended?), while Kang is actually quite forgettable; this Han is barely anything like the F&F version, quite the large reach for them to connect the two, if I'm honest. A quick look at the Wikipedia article for this, which also talks about some other interesting production events (Macaulay Culkin?! Big props to Lin for rejecting that, despite the £££), notes that apparently Sung Kang wanted to play Ben - now that could've been something! Obviously it worked out best for him that he didn't, but still... what could have been. Many others love this - who am I to object, really. All the same, I'm glad this was a success otherwise we most likely would not have got Justin Lin atop the F&F franchise; 'Fast & Furious' and 'Fast Five' are my favourites, behind the original of course. Happy that I've now belatedly seen a movie from him away from that world, though.