The Best Bet
| The Best Bet | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Jack Neo |
| Produced by |
Chan Pui Yin Titus Ho |
| Written by | Jack Neo |
| Starring |
Richard Low Mark Lee Christopher Lee Chen Liping Joanne Peh |
| Music by | Mo Ju Li |
| Distributed by | MediaCorp Raintree Pictures |
|
Release date
|
9 June 2004 |
| Country | Singapore |
| Language | Min Nan (Hokkien) & Mandarin |
| Budget | S$1.5 million |
| Box office | over S$2.5 million |
The Best Bet (Chinese: 突然发财; pinyin: Túrán Fācái; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tu̍t-jiân-hoat-châi) is a Singaporean comedy film written and directed by Jack Neo and distributed by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures. The film stars Richard Low, Mark Lee, Christopher Lee, Chen Liping and Joanne Peh.
Released in cinemas on 9 June 2004, The Best Bet earned over S$2.5 million. The film was nominated for Best Original Film Song at the 2004 Golden Horse Awards.
The film portrays the lives, struggles and adventures of three friends who are addicted to gambling. They place a joint 4D bet; when they win, one is tempted to keep all the winnings to himself. This satirical comedy touches on gambling addiction and the consequences of one's actions.
The success of the film spawned a television series of the same name which aired on MediaCorp Channel 8 on April 2005 and ran for 14 episodes. Four of the five lead actors except Joanne Peh continued to star in the television series. Several other new actors were added to the leading cast including Dai Qianyun as Mark Lee's idolizer, and Cheryl Chin as Mark Lee and Christopher Lee's love interest.
In 1996, director Jack Neo became a gambling addict and spent over S$1,200 a month on 4D bets. Frustrated with losing money and feeling dependent on the gambling, he successfully kicked the habit in 1999 with the support of his wife. As the release of the film coincided with an ongoing debate on whether to set up a casino in Singapore, Jack Neo commented that "we should warn people about the ills of gambling, because it is always a cycle."
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