What will you do if your lover leaves you for three years? You probably would not care less about him. The same goes for Liu Yin (Zhou Xun) the protagonist in the Chinese movie, The Great Magician. Here her lover leaves her to study magic in Europe.

Liu Yin as a result is frosty, robbed of the ability to believe in love. Somehow the movie has shadows of the movie, Perhaps Love which also has Liu Yin in a dilemma choosing between two lovers. In The Great Magician, Liu Yin is coerced to become the general, Liu Da Niu’s seventh mistress when her father, Liu Wanyao is caught.

Lei Da Niu starred by Lau Ching Wan is a powerful general who uses his butler’s magic tricks to enlist troops. In the meantime, his butler, Liu Kunshan (Wu Gang) is really a double faced villain trying to restore the Qing dynasty. In comes the lead actor, suave magician Zhang Xian (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), who tries to win back the heart of his lover, Liu Yin. So, Tony Leung befriends both sides in the strategy to rescue his mentor, Liu Wanyao (Paul Chen).

Apparently, Liu Kunshan is after the seven wonders portion. So Zhang Xian feigns that he has the portion which can help resurrect the emperor. The ending is a happy one, it been a Chinese New Year movie.

Lau Ching Wan shines as the general, who appears all stern and commanding on the outside but is really soft on the inside. His pranks to win the love of Liu Yin are hilarious. His sergeant warns him: “You still haven’t given up? What if you are unable to lead the troops next time?” referring to him being beaten up badly by the martial arts expert Liu Yin every time he goes to see her pinning for some reciprocation in love. “I just love to see you smile,” he coos to Liu Yin. Zhou Xun is convincing as the no-nonsense seventh mistress, showing off some zesty martial moves.

Tony Leung takes on the role of the magician, playing his usual role where the women swoon over him. Overall, director Derek Yee’s period comedy is light and entertaining.

Rating: 4/5