{ "id": "epw8rdn3vf", "slug": "boys-are-easy", "title": "Boys Are Easy", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994", "label": "Comedies of 1990 to 1994", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j", "label": "Titles symbols to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "China · 1946 to 2000: Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "path": [ { "id": "geo.chn", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946", "label": "China · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Boys Are Easy (追男仔, Zhui nan zi) is a 1993 Wong Jing Hong Kong romantic comedy in which Richard Ng's widower fakes a terminal illness to marry off three daughters played by Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, and Chingmy Yau.", "snippet": "Boys Are Easy (追男仔, Zhui nan zi) is a 1993 Wong Jing Hong Kong romantic comedy in which Richard Ng's widower fakes a terminal illness to marry off three daughters played by Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, and Chingmy Yau.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j", "markdown": "# Boys Are Easy\n\n**Boys Are Easy** (追男仔; pinyin: zhuī nán zǐ) is a 1993 Hong Kong romantic comedy directed and written by Wong Jing, in which a widowed father fakes a terminal illness to pressure his three unmarried daughters into finding boyfriends. It was released in Hong Kong on 12 August 1993 and stars [Brigitte Lin](https://www.edgepedia.org/brigitte-lin), Maggie Cheung, Chingmy Yau, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Jacky Cheung, Ekin Cheng, and [Jimmy Lin](https://www.edgepedia.org/jimmy-lin).[1](https://kungfutube.info/23772) • [2](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/49107/?fr=vod_3)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Original title | 追男仔 (Jui nam chai / Zhui nan zi), English title Boys Are Easy[1](https://kungfutube.info/23772) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108658/) |\n| Director and writer | Wong Jing; 1905.com also credits Bosco Lam as director[2](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/49107/?fr=vod_3) |\n| Release | 12 August 1993 (Hong Kong)[1](https://kungfutube.info/23772) |\n| Genre | Comedy and romance[4](https://jephmann.com/movies/film.php?id=101335) |\n| Runtime | Reported as 90, 96, or 97 minutes depending on the source[5](https://tw.18dao.net/%E5%BD%B1%E8%A6%96%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/%E8%BF%BD%E7%94%B7%E4%BB%94_%281993%29) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108658/) |\n| Hong Kong box office | HK$11,856,568 per one database; another gives HK$11,860,869[1](https://kungfutube.info/23772) |\n| Production companies | Chang Hong Channel Film & Video, Wong Jing's Workshop Ltd., and Win's Film Productions[4](https://jephmann.com/movies/film.php?id=101335) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108658/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nThe father, Ching Sing (Richard Ng), raised his three daughters and a younger son alone after his wife died. When a close friend of the same age dies suddenly, he resolves to see his children settled and pretends to suffer from a terminal illness so that the daughters will bring boyfriends home.[2](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/49107/?fr=vod_3) • [5](https://tw.18dao.net/%E5%BD%B1%E8%A6%96%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/%E8%BF%BD%E7%94%B7%E4%BB%94_%281993%29) The daughters, each with a different personality, hastily recruit stand-in suitors, producing a string of comic situations before the couples genuinely pair off and the father's \"illness\" cures itself.[5](https://tw.18dao.net/%E5%BD%B1%E8%A6%96%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/%E8%BF%BD%E7%94%B7%E4%BB%94_%281993%29)\n\n**The three romances.** The eldest daughter, Ching Siu Tung (Brigitte Lin), is a tough police officer who is transferred to the anti-vice squad after a botched operation and brings home the self-styled \"King of Gigolo Karaoke\", Simon Tse Sai ([Tony Leung Ka-fai](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-leung-ka-fai)).[6](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm) • [7](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=12873) The second daughter, Ching Siu Nam ([Maggie Cheung](https://www.edgepedia.org/maggie-cheung)), is a social worker who recruits the triad member Wu Ying ([Jacky Cheung](https://www.edgepedia.org/jacky-cheung)) as a fake boyfriend, and he is eventually reformed by her affection.[6](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm) • [8](https://wmoov.com/movie/post/13216) The youngest, Ching Siu Sze (Chingmy Yau), ropes in a twenty-seven-year-old virgin, Lee Chi Ko (Ekin Cheng), by pretending to be a poor hooker.[6](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm) The younger son, Ching Siu Pei (Jimmy Lin), completes the family.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108658/)\n\n## Production and style\n\nWong Jing served as director, writer, and producer, with Hui Pooi-Yung as co-producer; Jingle Ma Choh-Sing was the director of photography, Lowell Lo Koon-Ting composed the music, and Hung Poon edited.[4](https://jephmann.com/movies/film.php?id=101335) • [9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108658/fullcredits/) Bosco Lam worked as assistant director, and 1905.com credits him as a director alongside Wong Jing.[2](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/49107/?fr=vod_3) The film was rated IIA in Hong Kong.[5](https://tw.18dao.net/%E5%BD%B1%E8%A6%96%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/%E8%BF%BD%E7%94%B7%E4%BB%94_%281993%29)\n\nThe comedy relies on gags, movie parodies, and broad slapstick, including action set pieces with fight choreography by Nicky Lee (李忠志).[6](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm) • [1](https://kungfutube.info/23772) Reviewers have noted parodic touches throughout: the eldest daughter is named Ching Siu Tung after the action choreographer, Tony Leung Ka-fai riffs on famous scenes from *A Better Tomorrow*, and one character convincingly imitates [Bruce Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-lee).[10](https://letterboxd.com/naokevin/film/boys-are-easy/) • [11](https://letterboxd.com/dungeonskramz/film/boys-are-easy/) Sandra Ng appears in a cameo in which she beats up Jimmy Lin's character.[6](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm)\n\n## Reception and home video\n\nIts Hong Kong gross is recorded as HK$11,856,568 in one database and HK$11,860,869 in another.[1](https://kungfutube.info/23772) On IMDb it holds a rating of 6.5/10 from about 355 votes,[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108658/) and Rotten Tomatoes lists no critic reviews with a 45% audience score from more than 250 ratings.[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/boys_are_easy) The LoveHKFilm review called it \"a surprisingly funny wackfest\" despite many Hong Kong-specific jokes.[6](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm)\n\nThe 2002 Mei Ah DVD release omits substantial portions of the film, including parts of the \"Triad Olympics\" sequence, the \"Bowling\" song parody, and a scene featuring Ha Ping, whose character does not appear at all in that edition.[6](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm) The film was later released on DVD with [Cantonese](https://www.edgepedia.org/cantonese) and Mandarin tracks and removable English and Chinese subtitles.[6](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm)\n\n## References\n\n1. [イージーな彼氏たち／追男仔（1993）, KUNGFU TUBE](https://kungfutube.info/23772)\n2. [追男仔 (1993), 1905电影网](https://www.1905.com/mdb/film/49107/?fr=vod_3)\n3. [Boys Are Easy (1993), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108658/)\n4. [Boys Are Easy (1993), Jeffrey Hartmann movie database](https://jephmann.com/movies/film.php?id=101335)\n5. [影視資料/追男仔 (1993), Tw.18dao.net](https://tw.18dao.net/%E5%BD%B1%E8%A6%96%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/%E8%BF%BD%E7%94%B7%E4%BB%94_%281993%29)\n6. [Boys are Easy (1993), LoveHKFilm review by Kozo](https://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/boys_are_easy.htm)\n7. [추남자 (Boys Are Easy), Cine21](https://host.cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=12873)\n8. [追男仔, WMOOV](https://wmoov.com/movie/post/13216)\n9. [Boys Are Easy (1993) full cast and crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108658/fullcredits/)\n10. [Boys Are Easy review by naokevin, Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/naokevin/film/boys-are-easy/)\n11. [Boys Are Easy review by DungeonSkramz, Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/dungeonskramz/film/boys-are-easy/)\n12. [Boys Are Easy, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/boys_are_easy)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Comedy and romantic films (individual works) › Comedies of 1990 to 1994 › Titles symbols to J*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/boys-are-easy", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/boys-are-easy.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Boys Are Easy\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/boys-are-easy. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Boys Are Easy](https://www.edgepedia.org/boys-are-easy)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/boys-are-easy](https://www.edgepedia.org/boys-are-easy). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Boys Are Easy\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/boys-are-easy. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Boys Are Easy is a 1993 Wong Jing Hong Kong romantic comedy in which Richard Ng's widower fakes a terminal illness to marry off three daughters played by Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, and Chingmy Yau." }