Zany best friends Zizan Razak and Johan Aziz team up for the first time in an action-packed, star-studded adventure, writes DENNIS CHUA
TWO household names in comedy appreciated by Malaysians of every ethnic group are back as a team.
Jozan, or better known as Zizan Razak and Johan Aziz, are teaming up once again after five years, but not as the best of buddies.
In fact, Zizan is a super spy, or rather "swooper" spy Abang Long Fadil as he is a bumbling, accidental hero.
And Johan is his deadly but comical nemesis, a Peranakan crime lord with the apt Chinese name of Chow Han (literally, Evil Han).
THIRD INSTALLMENT
Abang Long and Chow Han square off in the third installment of the Abang Long Fadil action-comedy film series brought to audiences by director Syafiq Yusof of Skop Productions.
Opening in cinemas around Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei on Thursday (Sept 8), Abang Long Fadil 3 is a joint venture of Skop and Astro Show, and has one of the biggest ever film sets in Malaysian cinematic history.
CRIME LORD
Speaking at the press preview of Abang Long Fadil 3 in TGV Suria KLCC recently, Syafiq said: "Abang Long Fadil 3 is a natural progression for our gangster-turned-hero. In Abang Long Fadil 1, he was a kampung gangster with big dreams, while Abang Long Fadil 2 saw him reform and become a police agent to bust the capital city's biggest crime lord."
Syafiq added: "Abang Long Fadil 3 sees our hero go a step higher, he is roped in by the National Secret Service to defeat the country's biggest enemy, an international mafia boss who is the most serious threat to national security."
AHEAD OF PREDECESSORS
Syafiq is confident that Abang Long Fadil 3 will repeat the success of its predecessors, which each raked in more than RM18 million at the box office.
Filming took 77 days last year in the Klang Valley and Cyberjaya.
"What makes Abang Long Fadil 3 "ahead" of its predecessors is, 99 per cent of its scenes are action-packed," said Syafiq of his RM6-million film.
"Before I got cracking, I promised fans of Abang Long Fadil that it would be a star-studded one, with many household names playing major or minor characters that stood out."
POP CULTURE
He also said that Abang Long Fadil 3 contained lots of "Easter eggs" that paid tribute to Malaysian pop culture and past films, such as Mekanik, Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam and Ali Baba Bujang Lapok.
"There is also one that talks about my elder brother Syamsul singing the theme song of his movies," said Syafiq.
PLAYING TWO CHARACTERS
Zizan, who was delighted to be back as Abang Long, said that he played two characters, not one in the new movie.
"Besides Abang Long, I also play Agent Jeffri who is perhaps my long lost twin brother. The name is a tribute to the first known super spy of Malaysian cinema, Agent Jeffri Zain played by the late, great Tan Sri Jins Shamsuddin," he said.
Zizan added: "While Abang Long is tasked by his bosses, Chief Kazar and his daughter Chief Maya to take down Chow Han, his longtime nemesis King Cobra is still pursuing him with a vengeance, and he must literally watch his head!"
BAD GUYS TREMBLE
Besides Zizan and Johan, Abang Long Fadil 3 also stars singer-actress Elizabeth Tan in her first action-packed role. She plays the no-nonsense super spy Agent Alice who is Abang Long's mentor and partner.
"Agent Alice really makes the bad guys tremble as she is a real-life Wonder Woman. More than once, she saves our hero, despite the fact that she initially finds him annoying and clumsy," said Elizabeth, adding that it was great fun working with Zizan and Johan from the word "go".
MARTIAL ARTS
Maya Karin who plays Chief Maya said that she and Elizabeth underwent martial arts training in preparation for their roles.
"The challenge was to come up with stylish fight scenes, and we took a good three days to wrap them up," said Maya, who praised Elizabeth as a fast-learner.
"Elizabeth did all her stunts. I salute her courageous effort!"
WORKS OF ART
Daniella Sya, who plays the sidekick of King Cobra said that Abang Long Fadil 3, is also marking her film debut as a martial arts exponent.
"My scenes are brief but explosive. Most of them are fight scenes with Elizabeth, and Syafiq really made them works of art with his team of fight choreographers," she said, adding that she would love to star in more action films.
TOUGH FEMALES
Praising Syafiq for ensuring that all of the main female characters were "tough and strong" in their own ways, Maya said: "I'm happy to note that none of them needed saving, and two in fact saved our hero from falling on his face!"
TWO-DIMENSIONAL
Johan who thanks Syafiq for giving him his first bad boy role on the big screen, said: "Chow Han is really mean and evil, but viewers will still love him as he is a two-dimensional villain. He steals every scene with his antics, and his wife Ocy Lin is just as hilarious and crazy."
HONG KONG COMEDIENNE
Johan's real-life wife Ozlynn Wati plays Ocy Lin, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Hong Kong comedienne and television host Sandra Ng's film characters.
"Sandra Ng is one of my favourite funny ladies from Hong Kong, and I guess I learnt how to be a seductive, yet lethal villainess from her," said Ozlynn, adding that Ocy Lin was a brilliant "sinification" of her name by Syafiq.
REHEARSED AT HOME
Johan said that he and Ozlynn add libbed a lot as Chow Han and Ocy Lin.
"We rehearsed our over-the-top dialogues at home and even in our cars," said Johan, adding that Syafiq monitored their antics all the way.
"The biggest challenge I had was to balance work as a radio announcer and coming to the set on time. Thank God my superiors were flexible and understanding."
Johan also said that his scenes with Zizan and Ozlynn took slightly longer than expected because the crew could not stop laughing at their antics.
"Oh dear! We are such live wires, aren't we? he said.
LIFE IN DANGER
Tania Hudson, who reprises her role as Abang Long's love interest Yana, said that she had a lot more comedy this time around.
"Yana does not understand Abang Long's newfound secret agent job, and assumes that he and Agent Alice are dating. As a result, she tries to break them up, only to be dragged into their dangerous assignment as her life is in danger," she said, thanking Syafiq, Zizan, Johan and especially Ozlynn for helping to bring out the crazy side of her.
PRISON GUARD
Abang Long Fadil 3 also stars Datuk AC Mizal (King Cobra), Shuib of Sepahtu fame (Inspector Shuib), Kazar Saisi (Chief Kazar), Joey Daud (Professor Joey), Jay Iswazir (Professor Amirul), Khir Rahman (the Prime Minister), Wak Doyok (Wak), Siraj Al-Sagoff (Inspector Shahab) and Hairul Azreen as a prison guard.
The catchy theme song Payung is performed by Elizabeth and Zizan.
Skop Productions head Datuk Yusof Haslam said: "The entire team worked extra hard to make Abang Long Fadil 3 a film of Hollywood standards. We believe the audience likes it when there's a twist of plot in every movie they watch, so we present a fresh concept through this latest sequel and we hope that Abang Long Fadil 3 will be able to entertain everyone."
NO CGI INVOLVED
Astro Shaw head and vice president of Malay Nusantara business Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said: "Abang Long Fadil 3 will be the first local action-comedy film to be screened in cinemas after two years. We believe that the genre is a favourite amongst viewers in Malaysia.
"Apart from that, the film also boasts high production quality and other fresh elements to make it a must-watch."
Raja Jastina added that the scenes featuring explosions were real, and no Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) was used. "We wanted to keep things as real as possible," she said.