Better Luck Tomorrow

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

Release Date: April 11, 2003 (Theaters)

Genres: , ,

Phase:

Classification:

Runtime: 1h 41m

Production:

MTV Films

Budget: $250,000

Box Office: $3,800,000

Classification

Runtime
1h 41m

Production

Budget
$250,000

Box Office
$3,800,000

Parry Shen
Ben Manibag
Jason Tobin
Virgil Hu
Sung Kang
Han Lue
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)
Justin Lin
Director / Producer / Writer / Editor
Gustavo Spoliansky
Executive Producer
Michael Cole
Executive Producer
Michael D. Manshel
Executive Producer
Troy Craig Poon
Executive Producer
Ernesto Foronda
Producer / Writer
Julie Asato
Producer
Alexander Gruzdev
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Andy Rosenthal
Sound Effects Editor
Ben Boodman
Assistant Editor
Cindy Jo Hinkleman
Dialogue Editor
Donna Tina Charles
Casting / Second Assistant Director
Fred Raskin
Additional Editor
Guy Livneh
Chief Lighting Technician
Jaime Serene Kelly
Key Makeup Artist
James P. Lay
Sound Effects Editor / Sound Re-Recording Mixer / Supervising Sound Editor
Joan Huang
Co-Producer
Joel Juárez
Casting Associate
John Sanacore
ADR Mixer
Josh Diamond
First Assistant Director
Kelly Vandever
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Lorri Jakubuv
Property Master
Mato
Color Timer
Michael Gonzales
Original Music Composer
Michael J. McDonald
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Patrice Lucien Cochet
Director of Photography
Paul Davidson
Foley Artist
Remi Tournois
First Assistant Camera
Richard 'Rick' Partlow
Foley Supervisor
Robin Felix
Hairstylist
Sandi Lieu
Costume Design
Scott M. Silvey
Sound Effects Editor
Sheri Ozeki
Additional Music
Steve Herr
Associate Producer
Sung Kang
Associate Producer
Tim Bindel
ADR Supervisor / Sound Supervisor / Supervising Sound Editor
Tobin Mori
Original Music Composer
William Tabanou
Sound Effects Editor
Yoo Jung Han
Art Direction / Production Design

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Reviewer:
r96sk
Date:
September 18, 2024
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.
Rating:
5.0