Starring: Louis Koo, Julian Cheung, Kevin Cheng, Jessica Hester Hsuan, Kwan Lai-kit, Bosco Wong, Michael Tse, Louis Cheung Director: David Lam

THE first four entries in director David Lam’s alphabetically titled anticorruption action franchise — 2014’s “Z Storm,” 2016’s “S Storm,” 2018’s “L Storm” and 2019’s “P Storm” — could never be mistaken for pearls of screenwriting. However, even with all the traits of a typical Hong Kong action cop film — a protagonist with a strong sense of justice, a complex, inscrutable case to crack, exciting action set pieces, and dangerous stunts, “G Strom,” the fifth and final title in Lam’s Hong Kong action-thriller “Storm” movie series, fails to bring a satisfying end.

Like the other films in the franchise, the movie centers around the fictional exploits of Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and franchise veterans reprise their roles in the film, from Louis Koo’s protagonist, investigator William Luk, Julian Cheung as chief inspector of the VIP Protection Unit Lau Po-keung, Kevin Cheng as investigator Kenny Ching, and Louis Cheung as William Luk’s friend Wong Luk-lam.

The premise of having to fight against corrupt officials who are able to exercise political influence and power to crush the ICAC is highly intriguing, and lends itself to a David and Goliath situation where audiences cheer the underdog heroes fighting against the system on. It is a chance to move away from relying too heavily on the tried-and-true good cops versus bad criminals gun fights which, while always an exciting watch, are a bit hackneyed.

However, “G Storm” decides against that drama-heavy intrigue by starting off with a terrorist bomb threat. In fact, there are four bombs used in the film.

While the complex case surrounding an international human trafficking ring involves the bribery of some local officials and uncovering corruption, that aspect isn’t given enough weight, quickly fading into the background as the ICAC takes on a criminal mastermind, Siu Cheuk-ngah (Michael Tse) and leader of the trafficking ring, King (Rosyam Nor).

The movie is doing fine with the action set pieces, the stunts, the adrenaline-pumping choreography. The explosions and blood are mostly done using CGI, and one can’t help but miss the days of practical effects that make every bullet and every punch feel visceral.

Also, the action scenes in “G Storm” have a lot of cuts, which does move away from the conventions of Hong Kong action films, choosing to evoke a sense of chaos through editing rather than intricate choreography.

It really is a film that sticks to the template of Hong Kong action cop films, but doesn’t really replicate what makes those films endlessly rewatchable. Overall, this is the type of film that one shouldn’t expect to engage deeply with, as it is simply meant to be a fun, mindless watch. In that regard, “G Storm” does serviceably well. It is an easy, inoffensive film for the whole family, and it isn’t trying to be anything more than that.

The movie is now being screened in Shenzhen.

(SD-Agencies)