Title : No Problem
Year : 2001
Director : Z. Lokman
Script : Z. Lokman
Cast : Opie Zami, Danny (X-Factor), Maya Karin, Zami Ismail, Rosnah Mat Aris, Shamsul Ghau Ghau, Abon, Zila Bakarin, etc.

Reviewer : Reuben Kee
Rating : *1/2

No Problem - review by Reuben Kee

Let's face it. Malaysian film industry is a long way from achieving the same commercial status that its peers from Hollywood, Bollywood and even Hong Kong are enjoying right now, especially in terms of special effects and presentation. Yet, in all boldness, we may still have an advantage. Without all those fancy stuff, the only reliable factor is the storytelling and presentation of a good plot. Unfortunately, this is where “No Problem” falls flat in its face.

Awang is a happy-go-lucky coconut picker, who is quite obsessed with things associated with coconuts. His career path is about to take a detour after heeding the advise of Rosnah (Maya Karin) to proceed to a bigger and brighter job position.... a cleaner at a local hotel. At the same time, Sidibijo, who harbors an ambition to invent a laser beam to cut down coconuts, versus the original more traditional method applied by Awang (an axe tied to a rope and swings at it...no joke), constantly wooed Rosnah. Other subplots include a cheating husband, his wife who was kidnapped and his mistress who is constantly pursued by a dirty old man. There is not too much going on around here to actually make much sense of...so forgive me for not being so detailed.

The plot and the flow of the story was a complete mess and very hard to follow. In the beginning it was about Awang, then it shifted to the cheating man and then to this and then to that...a physics textbook is a child’s read compared to this. Except maybe for the character of Awang, you don’t really come to care for anyone in this movie, and all the characters can sometimes get at your bones with their annoying attics and their disturbingly stupidity. Plus the fact that the director likes to insert scenes where you’ll wonder what in the blazes is that for in the first place. Too much film to waste, I guess. This movie would have been more likeable if the plot only centers on one thing or at the most just add one subplot.

The acting here is also nothing much to comment about, let alone commend. As with most local productions, overacting seems to be the key problem. The actors were succumbed to looking stupid and all the “hoo” and “haa” can get really gut busting. The jokes and comedy are too straight forward, as though we can be amused by just anything that they throw at us. And yes, the jokes can get quite insulting to one’s intelligences. What’s with the song and dance routine that neither serves to tell nor enhanced the story? Annoying, annoying, annoying.

It is understood that the movie only took 18 days to shoot. That in itself is a testament to a lesson that needs to be learnt by our local filmmakers...quality above all should never be compromise. And while this watch is painfully disappointing, it is hope that such productions get less and less, and that the movie world in Malaysia gives us something we can be proud of. As for this movie.... trust me...its not something you want to bring to the Cannes Film Festival.

Source : http://www.cinemaonline.com.my (19/7/2001)