The story is fairly straightforward: a super advanced high-tech robot called RSI is built in the States - it is state-of-the-art and is virtually indestructible. RSI is to be taken to Hong Kong where it is to be shown at an International Advanced Weapons exhibition. A large HK police force is assigned to protect the exhibition centre, and Match (Fung), Alien (Sam) and Edison (Chan) are members of that police force. There is an hilarious scene where the HK police welcomes the RSI and the accompanying FBI agents to Hong Kong at the airport, with Christy Chung giving them orders to wave little flags etc.

The main baddie of the film is Kurt (Richard Sun), a young computer whizz who is the brains behind the design and creation of the RSI robot. He is angry that his design was stolen and now plots revenge by stealing back his robot and earning a large sum of money by selling it. Lucky for him, he is an old buddy of Edison's, so he uses Edison to get to the robot. During the confusion, Edison is framed for the hijacking of RSI and somehow or another Match and Alien are also under suspect for helping Edison. To clear their name and to get out of the water, Match, Alien and Edison have to find Kurt and the robot before he lets RSI loose in Hong Kong.

Gen Y cops is not an out and out action film, unlike Gen X. It is more of a martial-arts actioner with loads of comedy thrown in. The action scenes are directed well with loads of explosions and loud pumping accompanying music. Although the young actors aren't exactly thespians, they seem to fit into their characters well and it is obvious that they are having a time of their lives making this film. The fight-scenes, of which there are plenty of, are well-choreographed, but don't expect to be dazzled by sizzling martial arts moves. The special effects were handled by Larry Kassanoff's Threshold Entertainment which did Terminator 2, and is well-produced, but it still lacks that certain spark which makes Hollywood films that grander. As with the RSI robot, it looks convincing and deadly, but I thought the robot 'ED209' in Robocop was even more deadlier (and scarier). This only illustrates the point that HK is still a long way behind Tinseltown in the special effects arena. Maybe if HK had Hollywood backing?

The film's highlight is in the two main leads, Stephen Fung and Sam Lee. These two young actors have become so accustomed to each other that they have created a certain bond between themselves that looks so at ease and so natural. It's like watching two best-friends at work. Their comedic duo antics are hilarious, and it is so amusing seeing them both on screen. Newcomer Edison Chan sort of takes over the role left over from Nic Tse, and acquits himself well, but he plays a somewhat more cooler character than the lightweighted ones of Fung and Lee, and he seems more comfortable speaking English than Cantonese.

Babes from Gen X, Grace Yip and Jaymee Ong, are replaced with babes, Maggie Q and Ngai Wing-sze. Like their predecessors, they have virtually nothing much to do in the film except look gorgeous, and this is the film's major selling-point. It is simply a grand actioner with pretty boys and girls in the leads to attract its large teen audience. Even the bad guys look good. Richard Sun plays Kurt with an almost care-free attitude, and he walks around virtually half-naked, giving him a chance to show off his toned abdomen. Paul Rudd (Cider House Rules, Clueless) plays FBI agent, Ian Curtis, who gives an Hollywoodian presence to the film, but otherwise acts moody and contemptuous. It is good to see Christy Chung cast against type as Match and Alien's quirky superior. She sets a more humourous tone throughout her scenes in contrast to Rudd's brashness.

If I wanted to be pedantic, I could easily pick out flaws in the film, but Gen Y cops is one of those 'switch-of-your-brain' actioners, with its witty dialogue and pumping action sequences, there is nothing here that you can't enjoy, so sit back and enjoy.

Starring: Stephen Fung Tak-lun, Sam Lee Chan-sam, Edison Chan Kwoon-hei, Maggie Q, Richard Sun Kwok-ho, Paul Rudd, Ngai Wing-sze, Christy Chung

Directed by Benny Chan