MONEY GAME$ (半斤百两) (NETFLIX) (2025)

SYNOPSIS: After successfully leading his team to crack a major fraud case, the leader of the Anti-Fraud Society, Zeng Miao Zhu, uncovers an even larger conspiracy lurking in the shadows. He then assigns elite members Lam, Arrow, Big Mouth, and Ba Jie to infiltrate the money game controlled by Tang Gang. Their mission is to become the spokespersons for the project, quickly attracting a large influx of funds while simultaneously collecting evidence of criminal activity. However, after Tang Gang reaps enormous profits, the plan takes a sudden turn. Arrow is promoted by Tang Gang to become the spokesperson for a new wave of fraudulent schemes, leading to suspicion and internal conflict within the Anti-Fraud Society. Moreover, the society accidentally discovers that an even more powerful hand is manipulating everything behind the money game. As their investigation deepens, they gradually uncover a horrifying murder case that occurred in China 20 years ago. This long-buried case not only involves local elites but is also intricately linked to the current financial fraud network, plunging the entire Anti-Fraud Society into even greater danger and challenges…

MOVIE REVIEW:

Malaysia’s actor, DJ, producer Jack Lim and actor turned General Manager of TVB, Eric Tsang teams up in this Chinese New Year comedy, Money Game$. 


Directed by Malaysian filmmaker Matt Lai, this Malaysia-Hong Kong collaboration revolves around a mysterious setup, the Anti-Fraud society led by Master (Tsang) and his team of members including Lam (Lim), Jian Tau (Haoren), Big Mouth (Tomato) and Ba Jie (Ah Ya).

Their aim is to simply rid the world of scammers. And their latest mission require them to inflitrate a criminal group led by Tong (Edmond So from HK pop group “Grasshoppers”). In actual fact, there is a far more sinister, bigger boss behind all the online frauds and Ponzi schemes.

Will Lam and his team able to crack the case?

Lai of course have collaborated with Lim in last year’s gambling comedy, All In. Thus you can expect the usual doses of comedy and passable entertainment. While the plot of Money Game$ certainly combines educational messages and some Ocean Eleven’s quirks, it’s a lukewarm setup to the eventual revelation of the main villain.

Half the time, the narrative is doing its job dispensing advice not to be scam. You know fake phone calls by the police or some elaborate investing schemes that are too good to be true? I give the filmmakers some credit for giving the public some need be lessons.

The other half of the story focused on the mysterious baddie who pulled off one of the largest scam in China and disappeared from the world. You don’t need Sherlock Holmes to tell you who exactly is that person so the narrative takes us on a merry-go-round ride with a “big” twist and betrayal thrown in only to end in such a lukewarm, anti-climax way that you probably wonder why is there a need to do so in the first place.

Fortunately, there are Steady Gang’s Tomato and Ah Ya to throw in some hilarious banter and physical humour along the way. Edmond So is slightly over the top but still watchable. Bobby Au-yeung truly is the surprise here. To say more might spoil your viewing enjoyment. So let’s leave it as it is.

Ultimately, Money Game$ is a feel good cautionary tale. Fluffy, forgettable entertainment you won’t remember until Jack Lim and Matt Lai returns next year with yet another CNY comedy.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee