Dummy Mommy, Without a Baby

Dirs: Joe Ma Wai-ho, Mak Kai-kwong
Scrs: Joe Ma Wai-ho, Taures Chow Yin-han, Sunny Chan Wing-san
Prod Co: Mei Ah
Cast: Miriam Yeung, Edison Chen, Niki Chow, Wyman Wong, Pauline Yam
2001 | Colour | DCP | Cantonese | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 90min

Dummy Mommy, Without a Baby, directed by Joe Ma Wai-ho and Mak Kai-kwong, pays homage to Chor Yuen’s The Pregnant Maiden (1968), borrowing the same Chinese title and featuring Chor Yuen himself in his final big-screen appearance. While both films centre on the theme of a fake pregnancy, the new version takes a fresh approach with a contemporary twist.

Cantopop singer Miriam Yeung excels in her first comedic role as Fong Lai-kuen, a clumsy advertising agency employee on the verge of being fired. Desperate to save her job, she pretends to be pregnant, knowing that workplace laws protect expectant mothers from dismissal. Her charade takes an unexpected turn when her fake pregnancy makes her the ideal fit for a high-stakes advertising campaign. With her relationship with the wealthy client deepens and her deception spiraling out of control, Lai-kuen finds herself in increasingly absurd situations, culminating in dynamic mayhem…

Yeung’s natural charm and unpretentious acting made her an instant favourite, establishing her as a leading star of Hong Kong comedies. She went on to star in Joe Ma’s Love Undercover series (2002-2003), in a role also named Fong Lai-kuen, where her chemistry with the cast of Dummy Mommy, Without a Baby continues.

Post-screening talk with Joe Ma Wai-ho, Mak Kai-kwong, Sunny Chan Wing-san and Thomas Shin

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