Combination Platter Movie Review 1993

Anxious young immigrant Robert (Lau), newly arrived from Hong Kong, becomes a waiter at the Szechuan Inn in Queens, New York, where he gets a crash course in American culture and romance (as well as tipping). Gentle comedy works best with little details that ring true: overheard customer conversations, staff banter, the kitchen scenes. Lau's earnest, but effort feels like a series of small vignettes rather than a complete story. Still, a worthy first effort for the then 24-year-old Chan, who directed on a $250,000 budget, using his parents restaurant after hours for a set.

Distribution

Koch Entertainment Distribution, 22 Harbor Park Dr., Port Washington, NY 11080, Remarks: Includes Koch Vision and Koch Lorber Films

Available on VHS
Running time 84 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comedy Drama, Immigration, Edibles, Asian America

Screenplay

Tony Chan, Edwin Baker

Cast

Jeff Lau, Coleen O'Brien, Lester Chan, Thomas S. Hsiung, David Chung, Colin Mitchell, Kenneth Lu, Eleonara Khilberg, James DuMont

Cinematography

Yoshifumi Hosoya

Director

Tony Chan

Music

Brian Tibbs

Producer

Arrow Releasing

Awards

Sundance 1993: Screenplay.