In another shocking development that will again have some of you long-time readers out there questioning your intrepid webmaster's tenuous hold on sanity or your reasons for coming to this humble little site, I am offering up yet another positive review for a Hong Kong romantic comedy, the second in as many weeks, after our take on Love in Space. And, in fact, I am going so far as to give Good Times, Bed Times a recommendation, even after taking into consideration the cutesy title. Now, don't be racing to stage a cinematic intervention just yet, because this is the sort of film which which even beer-swilling dudes can enjoy, at least if they go into it with an open mind.

Good Times, Bed Times stars Lau Ching-Wan and Sammi Cheng as Raymond and Carrie, a couple who break up because Raymond can't keep his unit away from other women. The two find new possible relationships: Raymond runs into Tabby (Charlene Choi) in his courtroom, and Carrie begins an investigative story on Paul, the spokesman for the Hong Kong Police Department. Of course, these new relationships have their own set of problems. Tabby is too young and free-spirited for Raymond, while Paul's impotence brings down the heat between him and Carrie.

Sexual dynamics in Hong Kong cinema seems to fall into two extremes: none and full-on. For instance, can you remember Jackie Chan or Jet Li getting anything more than a peck on the cheek from their female co-stars? On the other hand, we have the rompings of Category III fare such as Sex and Zen, which are really just softcore smut gussied up in a slightly less pervy package. While not really a "sexy" movie by any means, at least here we get the idea that the characters might actually engage at some point in the horizontal bop -- which, given how protective of their chaste image most Hong Kong studios are of their performers, is a feat in and of itself.

This leads to the characters being more believable and more likeable, which is critical in a release such as this, because if the audience isn't invested in the characters, it doesn't matter how funny the jokes are. Speaking of jokes, the comedy here actually should translate well to western audiences, unlike many Hong Kong comedies, which seem to mistake throwing jokes at high volume and fast speed for actual hilarity produced. True, some of the jokes -- such as tired Matrix and John Woo parodies -- fall flat, but for the most part, this is a fun and breezy movie that really offers little in the way of smart film-making, but gives the viewer a good night's entertainment.

RATING: 7