If
you are looking for local flavored lame jokes, this movie is not for you; if
you are looking for insightful stimulation, this movie is not for you too. Ah
Boys to Men (Part 1) touches on the journey of a group of youngsters who
are enlisted to the National Service (mandatory military service) in Singapore.
While the director Jack Neo is well known for his excellent comic timing
and humorous treatment of local social phenomena, this movie does not fully
explore these aspects. Nevertheless, one can still see that Neo continues to
create within his forte by dealing with local stories and characters, though
with a superficial treatment. Thus, if you are looking for mockeries of social
issues that are similar to those portrayed in Neo's previous Money Not
Enough or I Not Stupid (Part 1 and Part 2), this movie does
not delve deeply into the social context too.
If
I go to the McDonald's, I want a hearty fast food meal; if I go to an Italian
restaurant, I am looking for refined delicacy; if I go to a hawker centre
for local delights such as laksa or bak kut teh, I am expecting a rich local
flavor that the food can offer. However, if I am served a bite of the Big Mac
and a sip of the bak kut teh, followed by a spoonful of tiramisu to complete my
meal, my palate is not fully satisfied. Ah Boys to Men is neither a
comedy, nor a social commentary, nor an emotionally moving drama, just because it
has not fully realized its potential in any of the above capacities. I would
appreciate it more if it is "lame", and is "lame" to the fullest; or if it is
socially critical; or if it is humorous, funny and filled with mockeries and
local jokes. Sadly, it just comes across as a superficial portrayal of NS life,
though I could see the director’s attempt at infusing a philosophical thought
to conclude Ah Boys to Men Part 1- "There is war in everybody, and your
enemy is yourself".
Rating: 4/10
