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Think 97 minutes of non-stop laughter, a great ensemble cast, and you’ve got yourself a must-watch movie for this Chinese New Year movie – Homecoming.

Boasting talents from Singapore and Malaysia, Homecoming tells a series of stories about family and the meaning of home.

Also a road trip comedy, the movie follows Karen (Jack Neo) and her son (Ah Niu) on a hilarious journey across the Causeway as they attempt to head home in time for reunion dinner.

The trip is not without a few bumps along the way and they collide with Mindy (Koe Yeet), a chef’s runaway teenage daugher. Malaysia’s top comedian, Afdlin Shauki, plays Zool, a hapless cab driver caught In the middle of the mess.

Back at home waiting are newlyweds, Ah Boon (Huang Wenhong) and Jamie (Rebecca Lim) – who have secret plans to leave for a Bali getaway.

Jacelyn + Mark (Homecoming)

Mindy’s dad, a famous celebrity chef played by Mark Lee, is facing a crisis in his kitchen. His temperamental nature has caused a staff walkout and only restaurant manager, Fei Fei (Jacelyn Tay), is left to help clean up the mess.

What’s going to happen? Can Chinese New Year (Eve) be saved?

The movie flows smoothly despite the various characters and storylines; more than commendable especially when it’s director Lee Thean-jeen’s (The Pupil) first comedy feature.

Though predictable and occasionally serving dialogue as clichéd as say, Mark Lee’s fake Hong Kong accent, Homecoming manages to tug at heartstrings and is both funny and touching without being over-sentimental.

The movie also represents homecoming in more ways than one as actor/director, Jack Neo returns to the screen for the first time since his infamous marital affair last March.

Jack Neo (Homecoming)

Locals are definitely more than acquired to Neo’s cross-dressing antics but his comeback in drag as Karen Neo is surprisingly entertaining. It may even endear him to lost fans or locals who will remember the golden days of Liang Popo and Liang Ximei.

Chaos ensue when he gets together with Ah Niu and Adflin Shauku; their scenes including a case of wrong medication and even a fake heart attack are definitely the highlights of the whole movie.

Granted, it doesn’t have the star power of nostalgia piece, It’s A Great Great World, but Homecoming, as its Mandarin title suggests, will guarantee that you 笑着回家 – laugh all the way home.

Movie: Homecoming 笑着回家
Rating: 3.5/5 starsOpens: 3 Feb 2011

Duration: 97 mins
Language: Mandarin, English, Dialects
Age Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Director: Lee Thean-jeen
Cast: Mark Lee, Jack Neo, A Niu, Afdlin Shauki, Jacelyn Tay, Huang Wenhong, Rebecca Lim, Koe Yeet