Jeff Lee
DOES Hantu Kapcai's story remind you of a Patrick Swayze movie? A Mat Rempit (illegal motorcyclist) severely in debt dies in a race. His spirit comes back to haunt the people who engineered his death and also to tell his family members how much he loves them.Ghost (with Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg) was a big hit in 1990, even though it drew scathing reviews. I think the movie's mushy and positive message about a dead lover coming back to tell you how he loved you hit a lot of nerves.Hantu Kapcai is the directorial debut of Ghaz Abu Bakar and is produced by Showbiz Productions, the sister firm of KRU Studios. KRU must be running out of ideas as its last movie, 29 Februari, was based on Forrest Gump.Hantu Kapcai's racing scenes are exhilarating, the acting is competent, the theme of the story is current and some of the scenes are funny, but like most Malaysian movies, it's let down by poor dialogue, slow pacing and few production values.I wanted the movie to resonate with with me, but all I could think about was: why isn't the handsome Remy Ishak singing a few tunes, just like he did in 29 Februari?Another thing I felt was missing Neelofa, who, unfortunately, appeared in Saya Amat Mencintaimu. She's a beautiful and sparkly actress, and although she's the only love interest in Hantu Kapcai, the movie could have used her more.The dead motorcyclist is Ajib (Zizan Razak, who's also in Untuk Tiga Hari), who, because he borrowed heavily to pay his mum's medical bills, enters an illegal race with Usop/Tiger (Remy), the son of a rich man.Tiger and his pal Greng (Izzue Islam) connive to win the race by dropping black oil on the road, thus, sending Ajib to an early death. Ajib realises only one person can see him, and that person is Ibrahim (Fizz Fairuz), who's in the running for the Imam Muda award. His sister is Khatijah (Neelofa).Ajib getting used to his new form and him wanting to get Ibrahim's attention provide some funny moments. Ajib's mum pins her hopes on her other son, Akim (Hairulazreen), who is demure and obedient.Akim delivers flowers on his motorcycle, and sparks soon fly between him and Khatijah. He also trains hard to take part in a motorcycle contest that offers a huge cash prize, but his transformation to a road racer lacks credibility.I often point out about Hollywood movies portraying minorities (blacks, Asians and Latinos) negatively, but the same thing happens in good ol' Malaysia.Hantu Kapcai makes the flower shop owner a shrewish Chinese woman who's interested only in squeezing out the last drop of energy from her worker. The Ah Long (illegal moneylenders) are also Chinese, but are portrayed as soft, even though they like to threaten debtors and splash paint on their homes.KRU Studios' Cicak-Man (2006) went one step better and practically omitted Chinese and Indians from its sci-fi version of Malaysia.In Hantu Kapcai, the dead still have an effect on the living world. But is that enough to stir the minds of jaded moviegoers?www.jeffleemovies.com
