PR Girls

The episodic film follows the lives of several bargirls, including Baby (Grace Lam Nga-sze), who is determined to make her fortune by age 25 and will do anything for money, Matilda (Sherming Yiu Lok-yi), who had an encounter with a well-endowed gweilo soccer player that left her repulsed by sex, Kwan (Angela Tong Ying-ying), who is up to her ears in debt, and their mamasan Julia (Liz Kong Hei-man) who, starting to tire of the girls' foibles and the uncouth customers, longs for the predictability and security of marriage. Like GIRLS WITHOUT TOMORROW 1992, the film tries to get away with as much as it can, within the parameters of Category II, so there is some topless nudity, a little softcore, and a smattering of S & M. There is also no real story to speak of, just an on-going glimpse into the lives of the characters, their clients, and the girls' lives outside of the club. The cinematography, music, and attractive cast hold one's attention and the film thankfully steers clear of the absurdly overdone melodrama that makes some hostess movies (notably CALL GIRL 1988) so hard to take. However, given Chow's past credits, one cannot help but be disappointed by the way in which the film never really aspires to say anything or contribute a new take on the profession. Instead, it merely grows increasingly hard-to-swallow and ends up seeming like little more than a waste of time. Wayne Lai Yiu- cheung has a memorable supporting role as a drug-crazed nut with a fetish for Baby, cross-dressing, and Hello Kitty toys. The director can be spotted briefly, at about the two thirds mark, as a particularly randy patron.