The Malaysia-Hong Kong co-production Gold and Joy is gearing up to bring a star-studded treasure hunt to the big screen. Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Mak Ho Pong and produced and written by Edmond Wong, the Chinese New Year comedy features a cast including Ruco Chan, Owen Cheung, Benjamin Yuen, Mandy Wong, Ha Yu, Kent Cheng and Emily Kwan.
Set inside a five-star hotel, the story follows four people who have reached a low point in their lives. After coming across a treasure map, they unexpectedly form a team and infiltrate the hotel in search of a legendary treasure.
While the full storyline has yet to be revealed, the four leading stars offered some clues during a recent promotional event when they opened suitcases containing unusual “treasure-hunting tools”, including durians, a metal detector, a whip and an abalone brush.
Benjamin Yuen revealed that he and Mandy Wong play a married couple whose relationship is on the verge of collapse. Wong jokingly added that their characters are practically heading for divorce. Having not worked together on a drama for years, the pair said their reunion brings back fond memories while allowing them to rediscover their familiar chemistry.
Wong plays the head of the hotel’s cleaning team, giving her character extensive knowledge of every corner of the property. She teased that audiences can expect a bold look and an outrageous, comedic personality, with plenty of improvisation taking place during filming.
Ruco Chan, meanwhile, takes on the role of an underworld boss. He teased that he shares an “undressing” scene with actress Shirley Chan but refused to reveal further details. Asked whether he needed to inform his wife beforehand, Chan joked that his wife is also involved in the production and assured audiences that the movie remains a family-friendly festive comedy.
The film also carries on the legacy of Raymond Wong’s popular “All’s Well, Ends Well” festive comedies, with his son Edmond Wong now taking the reins for the new production. Chan said reuniting with longtime friends was already a joyous occasion and was especially pleased to finally share the screen with veteran actor Ha Yu.
Owen Cheung jokingly introduced his character as “Cheung Chun Long”, saying he had finally fulfilled his dream of playing a wealthy young man. Beyond the comedy, he hopes audiences will also take away the film’s message about gratitude.
Veteran actors Ha Yu, Kent Cheng and Emily Kwan add further star power to the cast. Ha Yu described Malaysia as his “second home”, having visited the country numerous times for acting and production work. In the film, he plays a wise figure who offers guidance at crucial moments, with Cheng revealing that the character plays an important role in bringing the group together.
Returning to Malaysia for filming after 2017’s The Leakers, Cheng said he was treating the trip like a holiday and even brought his family along. He plays Kwan’s husband in the film, with the couple focused on marrying off their daughter. Kwan joked that this is already their second time playing husband and wife, only for Cheng to struggle to remember their previous pairing, prompting her to laugh: “Why do you never remember?”
