Dry Wood Fierce Fire


Dry Wood Fierce Fire is a 2002 Hong Kong romantic comedy film written and directed by Wilson Yip, and starring Louis Koo and Miriam Yeung. The film was released on 19 April 2002.

Plot

Women's magazine, "Ladies", and Men's magazine, "Gents" were acquired by renowned writer Michelle Chan, who merges them into a new magazine, "Boku". Alice is a journalist for "Ladies" while Ryan Li is the vice chief editor for "Gents". Alice falls in love with Ryan at first sight, but Ryan has a crush on Michelle. One time during an assignment where she travels up a mountain to interview an extraordinary person, Alice loses her glasses and calls the "Boku" office for help, where Ryan answers her call and proceeds to help her but he gets hurt from a fall. From that day on, Alice makes double-stewed soup for Ryan to heal his wound and later also helps him set up his new home. When Ryan finds out Alice's feelings for him, he purposely avoids her and Alice sadly resigns her position. However, one day while looking at the designs in his new home, Ryan misses Alice.

Cast

  • Louis Koo as Ryan Li, the vice chief editor of "Gents" magazine known for his good looks which attracts his female subordinates.
  • Miriam Yeung as Alice Tsui, a journalist for "Gents" magazine's health column who comes from family of Chinese herbalists and martial artists.
  • *Tang Suet-wah plays Alice as a teenager.
  • Flora Chan as Michelle Chan, a renowned writer who acquires "Ladies" and "Gents" magazine, merging them into "Boku" magazine and becomes Ryan and Alice's new boss.
  • Wyman Wong as an eight-time sanda champion from Shenzhen.
  • Sharon Chan as Phoebe
  • Monica Lo as Ryan's ex-girlfriend.
  • Lo Mang as Tsui Ying-biu, Alice's father who is a Chinese herbalist.
  • Kingdom Yuen as Alice's mother.
  • Cheung Tat-ming as Fly Chan, Alice's martial uncle.
  • Chapman To as Autumn Sze-to
  • Matt Chow as Autumn Au-yeung
  • Nelson Cheung as Nel Nel
  • Johnny Lee
  • Joe Lee as Joe Li
  • Wong Yat-fei as Mr. Bau
  • Lee Fung as Dr. Yan
  • Keith Ho as Pal Pal
  • Wong So-pik as Yuko
  • Chim Wai-leung as a doorman.

Reception

Box office

The film grossed HK$13,111,873 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 19 April to 24 May 2002.

Critical reception

Derek Elley of Variety praises the performances of Louis Koo and Miriam Yeung and calls the film "an unexpected delight among this year's Hong Kong romantic comedies." Andrew Saroch of Far East Films have the film a score of 3.5/5 stars, praising Koo and Yeung's chemistry and notes how the film used familiar approaches that does not stand out in the romantic comedy genre. Kenneth Brorsson of So Good Reviews praised Wilson Yip's direction and the performances and chemistry of Koo and Yeung, as well as Poon Hang-sang's photography and the film's natural lighting.