Better Luck Tomorrow

Never underestimate an overachiever.

6.3
20021h 41m

Production

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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.

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Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) Official Trailer #1 - Justin Lin Movie HD

Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) Official Trailer #1 - Justin Lin Movie HD

Cast

Photo of Parry Shen

Parry Shen

Ben Manibag

Photo of Jason Tobin

Jason Tobin

Virgil Hu

Photo of Sung Kang

Sung Kang

Han Lue

Photo of Karin Anna Cheung

Karin Anna Cheung

Stephanie Vandergosh

Photo of Roger Fan

Roger Fan

Daric Loo

Photo of Jerry Mathers

Jerry Mathers

Biology Teacher

Photo of John Cho

John Cho

Steve Choe

Photo of Darian Weiss

Darian Weiss

Kenny Vandergosh

Photo of Justin Lin

Justin Lin

Jock (Uncredited)

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Reviews

R

r96sk

5/10

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.

You've reached the end.