I Not Stupid
| I Not Stupid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jack Neo |
| Written by | Jack Neo |
| Produced by | David Leong Chan Pui Yin |
| Starring | Jack Neo Richard Low Xiang Yun Selena Tan Shawn Lee Huang Po Ju Joshua Ang |
| Distributed by | United International Pictures |
Release date |  9 February 2002 |
Running time | 105 min |
| Country | Singapore |
| Language | Mandarin / Hokkien / English |
| Budget | S$ 1,000,000 |
I Not Stupid (Chinese: 小孩不笨; pinyin: xiǎohái bù bèn) is a Singapore film produced by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures, written and directed by Jack Neo, who also played one of the leading roles. The film also stars Xiang Yun, Richard Low, Selena Tan, and three young actors Shawn Lee, Huang Po Ju and Joshua Ang.
Released in cinemas on 9 February 2002,[1][2] I Not Stupid became the all-time third-highest grossing movie in Singapore after Money No Enough and I Not Stupid Too, earning over S$3.8 million. It was nominated for Best Asian Film at the 2003 Hong Kong Film Awards, but lost to My Sassy Girl. Following the success of this film, a sequel titled I Not Stupid Too was produced and released in cinemas on 26 January 2006.
The film portrays the lives, struggles, and adventures of three Primary 6 pupils who are placed in the academically inferior EM3 stream. This satirical comedy criticises the Singapore education system and some social attitudes in Singapore, including the competitive kiasu mentality and the over-obedience to authority.
Production
In an interview with the Singapore Medical Association, Jack Neo said that the Iranian film, Children of Heaven, inspired him to write about children, a trend that continued in his next movie, Homerun, which was a remake of Children of Heaven.[3]
I Not Stupid was produced by Raintree Pictures on a budget of S$900,000,[4] sponsored by Bee Cheng Hiang, Yeo Hiap Seng and Sunshine Bakeries.[5] The child stars were selected through an audition of over 50 children.[6] Besides writing the script, Jack Neo directed I Not Stupid and composed the theme song, which was sung by Chen Guorong. Daniel Yun, the CEO of Raintree Pictures, was the executive producer, assisted by David Leong and Chan Pui Yin.[7]
The film was shot at Braddell Westlake Secondary School and Westlake Primary School. It was distributed by Raintree Pictures and United International Pictures.[8][9]
Plot
Liu Kok Pin (played by Shawn Lee), Terry Khoo (Huang Po Ju) and Ang Boon Hock (Joshua Ang) are three students in the EM3 stream. Kok Pin is a talented artist, but his mother (Xiang Yun) does not appreciate his talent, and frequently canes him for poor grades. Terry, a pampered crybaby from a rich family, always listens to his mother, in contrast to his defiant sister, Selena (Cheryl Chan). Boon Hock comes from a poor family and his mother sells wonton noodles for a living; nevertheless, he is loyal to his friends and always stands up for them.
Mrs Khoo (Selena Tan) often forces Selena and Terry to act against their wishes, "for their own good". As a result, she and Selena regularly quarrel over trival matters, and the mother-daughter relationship deteriorates. Selena joins a teenage gang in her quest for greater freedom, but after being arrested, is placated when her mother buys her a pair of long-cherished sports shoes.
After a fight over a parking lot, an enmity develops between Mr Khoo (Richard Low) and Mr Liu (Jack Neo). Mr Khoo is a belligerent businessman who owns Good Friend Ba Gua, a company selling ba gua. He fires an employee over an accident while handling a machine. The advertising company Mr Liu works for hires an American, John, as Creative Director.
Mr Liu's and John's teams are competing to convince a client with their proposals. Mr Liu's friend, Ben, is outraged upon discovering that John stole some of Mr Liu's ideas for his proposal. The client turns out to be Mr Khoo, who instantly rejects Mr Liu's proposal, opting for John's instead. As John's ideas are totally incompatible with Chinese customs, Mr Khoo's business suffers in the face of competition from a Taiwanese company, Taiwan Ba Gua King.
Tiong Meng, Boon Hock's cousin, mocks the EM3 students, starting a fight in which he accidentally suffers a face injury. At the Discipline Mistress's office, Boon Hock and Kok Pin explain what happened. However, due to his mother's instructions to "mind his own business", Terry declines to testify in their favour. This infuriates his friends, which accuse him of "not being a man".
A new form teacher, Ms Lee, takes over the EM3 class. She inspires Boon Hock to excel in his studies, and he tops the class in Maths. Boon Hock stands up for Terry when a woman accuses Terry of bullying her son. To prove he is a man, a grateful Terry offers to serve their customers, but gets injured doing so.
The ex-employee of Good Friend Ba Gua, with his friend (Mark Lee) as an accomplice, kidnaps Terry and Boon Hock, demanding 20 million dollars from Mr Khoo. While the kidnappers are sleeping, Boon Hock starts planning an escape, but the obedient Terry is initially relutant to run away. After he decides to join the escape, the kidnappers wake up. A wild chase ensues, which ultimately results in the kidnappers' arrest.
Boon Hock helps Kok Pin cheat in the Preliminary examinations. After they are caught, Kok Pin, unable to face his mother, attempts suicide, but fails. Mrs Liu is diagnosed with leukemia, and is given three months to live. The school rallies to find a suitable bone marrow donor, so she can undergo a bone marrow transplant.
In the PSLE maths exam, Book Hock scores 92/100, Terry scores 65/100, and Kok Pin 51/100. Contrary to Kok Pin's fears, his mother is satisfied as he has tried his best. When visiting Mrs Liu at the hospital, Ms Lee announces that one of Kok Pin's drawings won second prize in an international competition.
Mr Khoo passes the HLA test, but refuses to donate after discovering the intended recipent is his enemy's wife. Later, it is revealed that Terry, not Mr Khoo, is the suitable donor. Despite protests from parents, he insists on undergoing the operation, which is a success. A grateful Mr Liu offers to help Mr Khoo's business with his proposal. As a result, Mr Khoo's business booms, and the two enemies become good friends. Template:Endspoiler
Cast
The main characters of the movie were played by the following actors:[7]
| Character | Played by |
|---|---|
| Mr Liu | Jack Neo |
| Mrs Liu | Xiang Yun |
| Mr Khoo | Richard Low |
| Mrs Khoo | Selena Tan |
| Liu Kok Pin | Shawn Lee |
| Ang Boon Hock | Joshua Ang |
| Terry Khoo | Huang Po Ju |
| Selena Khoo | Cheryl Chan |
Political satire
I Not Stupid is noted for its political satire.
The Singaporean education system is a recurring theme. Streaming is criticised for promoting academic elitism, where pupils in less academically inclined streams are looked down upon by others, making it more difficult for them to catch up. The film points out that pupils in less academically inclined streams are not necessarily stupid, and can realise their potential when given the opportunity.[10][11][12]
Terry's mother personifies the Singapore government, with her demands for total obedience from her children and her repeated lines "Do you know how lucky you are to have a good and responsible mother?" and "This is all for your own good". This parodies the ruling People's Action Party's efforts to convince Singaporeans that all their efforts are in the best interests of the nation.[10][12][13] Additionally, Terry's mother wears a white shirt throughout the film, which is a reference to the members of the PAP, who wear white clothes to symbolise purity.
I Not Stupid touches on the Singaporean trait of obedience and respect for authority. When Boon Hock and Terry are kidnapped, the kidnapper tells them "I hope you maintain the Singaporean spirit and be obedient! Don't try anything!" In a scene at the office, Mr Liu comments that "it is difficult to catch fish in Singapore, because fish in Singapore are like Singaporeans; they'll never open their mouths".[12]
The film criticises Singaporean companies which often hire Western expatriates, regarding local employees as inferior and giving them lower salaries and less benefits. Another issue raised is the use of Singlish and the differences between English and Chinese.
Reception
I Not Stupid earned just S$46,000 during a limited sneak-preview run, prompting Raintree Pictures to embark on a massive publicity scheme, which included inviting teachers to discuss the film. After showing for four months on 30 screens, the movie earned S$3.8 million.[13] I Not Stupid is one of Singapore's all-time highest-grossing movies. When I Not Stupid was released, Money No Enough was the only Singaporean film with higher earnings.[14] In 2006, the sequel I Not Stupid Too grossed over S$4 million, replacing the original movie as the second-highest grossing Singapore movie of all time.[14]
Following its success in Singapore, I Not Stupid was screened in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.[2] I Not Stupid screened at the 2002 Pusan International Film Festival[13] and had a limited release in Thailand in 2004.[15]
I Not Stupid won several awards, including the Best Chinese Film Award at the Golden Bauhinia Awards. In addition, SIGNIS awarded I Not Stupid the Best Chinese Humanitarian Film Award at the Taiwan Golden Torch Award 2002. The film was nominated for Best Asian Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards, but lost to My Sassy Girl.[2][16][17]
Critics gave generally positive reviews of I Not Stupid, praising it for its uniqueness and for touching a raw nerve among Singaporeans.[10][11][12] One reviewer expressed surprise that the Singapore censors allowed its release.[5]
Despite containing satirical criticism of government policies, the film received positive responses from the Singapore government. Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong commended Jack Neo's creative talent during the National Day Rally address on 18 August 2002.[18] In 2004, Neo was the first local film-maker to receive a National Day Award.[19] On 21 October 205, he and Dick Lee became the first pop culture artists to receive the Cultural Medallion, Singapore's highest arts award.[20]
The film sparked debate about the negative aspects of streaming in the Singapore education system. In an interview, Neo said "it [streaming] judges you. If you're not good enough, you're useless. In our society, everyone feels like that sometimes.".[21] After much public discussion and parliamentary debates, in 2004, the Ministry of Education decided to merge the EM1 and EM2 streams,[22] and on 29 September 2006, it announced that the EM3 stream will be scrapped by 2008.[23]
Sequels
Following the success of the film, MediaCorp developed a TV version of I Not Stupid. The drama serial, consisting of 18 30-minute episodes, was broadcast on Channel 8 every Saturday from 9pm to 9.30pm, starting 24 August 2002.[24] Although Jack Neo did not write the script or direct the TV version, he worked with story planners and starred as Mr Liu. In an interview, Jack Neo stated that the TV version gave him more opportunities to expand on issues or details that could not be sufficiently covered in the movie due to time constraints. [25][26] The TV version of I Not Stupid bagged several nominations at the Star Awards 2002: Best Sitcom, Best Theme Song, Best Comedy Performer (Richard Low) and Young Talent Award (Shawn Lee, Joshua Ang and Huang Po Ju), with Shawn Lee winning the Young Talent Award.[27]
A second movie, I Not Stupid Too, was released on 26 January 2006. The story and characters in I Not Stupid Too are different from those in I Not Stupid, and the sequel touches on other issues, most notably miscommunication between teens and adults. With earnings of over S$4 million, I Not Stupid Too overtook the original film as the all-time second highest grossing movie in Singapore. Jack Neo has announced plans to make more sequels.[28]
References
- ^ http://dvdasian.com/cgi-bin/dvdasian/17551.html
- ^ a b c "Corporate Profile". MediaCorp Raintree Pictures. 2005.
- ^ http://www.sma.org.sg/sma_news/3404/nonmedica.pdf
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20050512202637/http://194.21.179.166/cecudine/fe_2002/eng/singapore2002.htm
- ^ a b Soh Yun-Huei. "I Not Stupid - Review". FilmAsia.
- ^ http://www.mediacorpraintree.com/ins/ins_cast.htm
- ^ a b ""I Not Stupid" - Production notes". MediaCorp Raintree Pictures. 2002.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307681/companycredits
- ^ http://www.mediacorpraintree.com/js/fs.asp?ref=/inotstupid2_160106.htm
- ^ a b c "I Not Stupid - Review". www.lovehkfilm.com.
- ^ a b Daniel Nguyen. "I Not Stupid - Review". KFC Cinema.
- ^ a b c d Funn Lim (2005). "I Not Stupid - Review". Spcnet TV.
- ^ a b c Ciecko, Anne Tereska (2006). Contemporary Asian Cinema. New York: Berg. pp. "Singapore: Developments, Challenges and Projections", pp. 81-82. ISBN 1 84520237 6.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "'I Not Stupid Too' crosses $4m mark in box office takings". ChannelNewsAsia. 6 March 2006.
- ^ "Chalermthai new movie". Pantip.com. 2004.
- ^ "Celebration of Singapore-made Films at Cannes Film Festival's Tous les Cinémas du Monde". Media Development Authority. 9 May 2006.
- ^ "Awards for Xiaohai bu ben". Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Goh Chok Tong (18 August 2002). "National Day Rally Address".
- ^ "Jack Neo honoured with National Day awards". Channel NewsAsia. 9 August 2004.
- ^ "Dick Lee, Jack Neo among this year's Cultural Medallion recipients". Channel NewsAsia. 21 October 2005.
- ^ Douglas Wong (12 April 2002). "SINGAPORE: Learning to develop their other abilities: EDUCATION REFORMS". Financial Times.
- ^ "Changes to Pri 4 streaming: EM1 and EM2 to be merged". Channel NewsAsia. 18 March 2004.
- ^ "No streaming, no stigma". Channel NewsAsia. 29 September 2006.
- ^ "Sitcom: I Not Stupid". 2004.
{{cite web}}: Text "publisher Channel 8 Mediacorp TV" ignored (help) - ^ "I Not Stupid: Coming to a TV near you…". Channel 8 Mediacorp TV. 12 August 2002.
- ^ Ang Ling Ling (10 May 2002). "Hokkien No Enough". Channel 8 Mediacorp TV.
- ^ "Star Awards 2002 - Nomination List". Channel 8 Mediacorp TV. 24 October 2002.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Ng Bao Ying (18 January 2006). ""I Not Stupid Too" tackles communication problems in families". ChannelNewsAsia.