A cross-border showdown powered by stereotypes, slapstick, and surprisingly a lot of heart.

If Hollywood has Godzilla vs Kong, then Southeast Asia gets Liang Po Po Vs Ah Beng, a proudly loud, unapologetically silly clash between two cultural icons. On one side is Liang Po Po, the legendary sharp-tongued grandmother from Singapore, once again played in drag by Jack Neo. On the other is Ah Beng, the hot-blooded Malaysian security guard embodied by Jack Lim. Directed by Matt Lai, the film opens by delivering exactly what its title promises: a head-to-head confrontation that devolves into the age-old, impossible argument over food origins and which country can lay claim to what. It’s petty, noisy, deeply familiar, and immediately amusing.

The film, however, quickly abandons its versus gimmick. An accident forces sworn enemies Liang Po Po and Ah Beng into an uneasy partnership, sending them on a cross-border rescue mission that shifts the story firmly onto Malaysian soil. Shot primarily in Malaysia, this ends up being more Ah Beng’s film than Liang Po Po’s, as the narrative focuses on his family life and his relationship with his adopted daughter Xiao Yun, played by the charming Ivory Chia. In classic Chinese New Year fashion, the film’s emotional spine is built around family, not the kind you’re born into, but the kind you choose. Xiao Yun’s insecurities about whether she truly belongs, fuelled by schoolyard comparisons and cruel comments about her complexion, gently steer the film toward a familiar but effective found-family arc.

Before the sentiment can settle, the plot gleefully spirals into excess. An organ trafficking syndicate kidnaps both Xiao Yun and her wealthy classmate, prompting Ah Beng to risk everything to save his “daughter” and transforming Liang Po Po into an unlikely action hero. What follows is an absurd escalation that crowns the pair the so-called “Strongest Duo of Singapore and Malaysia,” a title the film embraces with total sincerity and zero restraint. Along the way, they’re joined by a medley of supporting characters, including a kickass schoolteacher played by Jestinna Kuan and a helpful taxi driver portrayed by Danny Lee, all while finding time to roast each other’s countries, complain about the cost of living, and joke about exchange rates. There are even some surprisingly competent action sequences, yes, with blood, though they’re always undercut by slapstick humour and a commitment to stupidity.

What ultimately makes Liang Po Po vs Ah Beng work more than it should is its self-awareness. The script knows exactly what kind of movie it is and leans into it hard, delivering ridiculous twists, fake-out reveals, moments of deliberately clumsy “censorship,” extended detours involving unexpected villains, and a constant sense that it’s winking at the audience. While Jack Neo and Jack Lim fully commit to their iconic roles and generate strong onscreen tension, it’s the kids, Ivory Chia and Yu Zhi, who provide both the heart and many of the biggest laughs, grounding the film’s chaos in something surprisingly sincere.

At the end of the day, this is a dumb movie, but it is also the quintessential Chinese New Year movie, echoing the spirit of classic Stephen Chow comedies without ever quite reaching those heights. Instead, it embraces the extremes: melodrama, cartoon violence, slapstick humour, moral lessons, and even unapologetic product placement, with infectious enthusiasm. It’s so ridiculous you can’t help but laugh, and by the time it’s over, you’re left feeling oddly warm despite yourself. Don’t take it too seriously and you’ll enjoy it more than you expect to, and the fact that you can even use SG Culture Pass credits to watch it somehow feels fitting. It’s as cultural as it gets: noisy, messy, self-aware, and ultimately good-hearted, making for a solid, affectionate CNY watch.

Liang Po Po Vs Ah Beng opens 17th February in Singapore, in cinemas such as Golden Village