Cat and Mouse centers on Zhan Zhao (Andy Lau), who is a powerful deputy to the wise Judge Bao (Anthony Wong). Zhan and Bao have cleaned up their province so much that there is nothing for them to do besides the occasional odd job like cutting apart a stinky cow hide. Bored, Zhan heads back home for a vacation, where he uncovers a plot to assassinate Bao so that a rebel group can overthrow the Emperor (Cheung Tat-Ming).

Due to politics pulled by the Empress, the court can't officially do anything about the plot, so Zhan strikes out along with his friend Bai, who is a noted swordsman. But Bai is actually a woman (how anyone could mistake the lovely Cecilia Cheung for a man is beyond me) and the budding romance between them runs into a complication when Zhan becomes part of an arranged marriage.

Loosely based on the novel "Qi Xia Wu Yi" ("Three Heroes and Five Gallants"), Cat and Mouse was released during the lucrative Lunar New Year period. Like many films that come out during that time, it's a light and fluffy affair that uses its' all-star cast and crew to create a movie that appeals to everyone. And, again, like most New Year entries, it succeeds in creating an enjoyable enough movie to while away ninety minutes, but it's nowhere near the realms of the great.

Truth be told, there is a lot done wrong here, most notably with Gordon Chan's direction. This is a bit surprising, since Chan tends to be one of the most dependable directors in Hong Kong. But he seems to meander about here with no real focus.

Is this a romance? Is this a comedy? Is this a wuxia picture? Of course, genre-mixing is to be expected in Hong Kong productions, but Cat and Mouse can't seem to fuse the various parts together and the whole film feels a bit sloppy as a result.

What saves Cat and Mouse from becoming a truly bad picture are the actors. Even with a limp script and lackluster direction, they still manage to create some engaging characters. Though she spends a lot of the movie sporting a ridiculous looking mustache and beard, Cecilia Cheung is especially good as the conflicted Bai. Seeing her work here, minor as it might be, made me miss her in more recent films, as she hasn't been heard from in a couple of years.

At any rate, if you're in the mood for a movie with some decent eye candy that isn't going to tax the old gray matter too much, then Cat and Mouse is a perfect fit. But if you're looking for something with a substantial story or heart-pumping action, then you'd be better off heading elsewhere.

RATING: 5