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poster of Better Luck Tomorrow
Rating: 6.4/10 by 89 users

Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)

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

Directing:
  • Justin Lin
  • Josh Diamond
  • Donna Tina Charles
Writing:
  • Ernesto Foronda
  • Justin Lin
  • Fabian Marquez
Stars:
Release Date: Sat, Jan 12, 2002

Rating: 6.4/10 by 89 users

Alternative Title:
Завтра лучше чем вчера - RU

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 41 minutes
Budget: $250,000
Revenue: $3,800,000

Plot Keyword: high school, high school student, petty crimes

Parry Shen
Ben Manibag
Karin Anna Cheung
Stephanie Vandergosh
Roger Fan
Daric Loo
Jerry Mathers
Biology Teacher
John Cho
Steve Choe
Darian Weiss
Kenny Vandergosh
Shirley Jean Anderson
Hot Dog Planet Costumer
Justin Lin
Jock (Uncredited)

r96sk

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.


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