I Not Stupid 3
I Not Stupid 3 | |
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Chinese | 小孩不笨 3 |
Literal meaning | "Children Are Not Stupid 3" |
Hanyu Pinyin | Xiǎo hái bù bèn 3 |
Directed by | Jack Neo |
Screenplay by |
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Starring |
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Music by |
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Production companies |
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Distributed by | mm2 Entertainment United International Pictures |
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Countries | Singapore Malaysia China Taiwan |
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I Not Stupid 3 (Chinese: 小孩不笨3) is a 2024 Singaporean comedy film written and directed by Jack Neo, featuring child actors Zhou Yuchen, Camans Kong, Goh Wee-Ann and Joseph Ng Zhiyang.[1] The film also stars Hu Jing, Jae Liew, Collin Chee, Cheryl Desiree Chan, Xixi Lim, Ben Logan Sng, Glenn Yong, Terence Cao, Selena Tan, Patricia Mok, Anna Lin Ruping, Xiong Lingyi, Lee Kin Mun and Chew Chong Tak. It is the standalone sequel to I Not Stupid (2002) and I Not Stupid Too (2006).[2][3]
Plot
[edit]Wang Zi Hao (Zhou Yuchen), a Chinese Primary 6 student from Shanghai, China residing in Singapore, faces academic pressure when his new classmate Jayden Lee Jun Wei (Camans Kong) frames him for cheating to maintain his top-ranking status. Meanwhile, Zi Hao's Mother, Wen Ting (Hu Jing), is falsely accused of illegal work by Jayden's competitive mother, Sophia (Jae Liew). Amidst the turmoil, the two mothers realise the toll on their sons and unite to prioritise their well-being over grades, fostering reconciliation.
Cast
[edit]- Zhou Yuchen[4] as Wang Zi Hao
- Camans Kong[4] as Jayden Lee Jun Wei
- Hu Jing[5] as Wen Ting, Wang Zi Hao's Mother
- Jae Liew[6] as Sophia, Jayden Lee's Mother
- Goh Wee-Ann[4] as Chen Jia Yao
- Joseph Ng Zhiyang[4] as Andy Lim
- Collin Chee[6] as Kelvin Lee, Jayden Lee's Father
- Cheryl Desiree Chan as Ada, Chen Jia Yao's Mother
- Xixi Lim[6] as Andy Lim's Mother
- Ben Logan Sng as Andy Lim's Father
- Glenn Yong as Mr. Lee, Class 6A's form teacher and Mathematics Teacher.[6][7]
- Terence Cao[6] as Mr. Lim, Class 6A's Science Teacher.
- Selena Tan as Mrs. Tan, the school principal of the primary school, similar to her role from I Not Stupid Too as the school principal of Tom Yeo (Shawn Lee) and Lim Chengcai's (Joshua Ang)'s secondary school, and both of them are not part of this film either. Tan previously portrayed the role as the mother of Terry Khoo (portrayed by Huang Po Ju, who isn't part of the prequel and this film) from the first installment, in which she spoke a majority of English dialogue during the first film, and spoke inarticulate Mandarin Chinese, as seen in the second film that she was attempting to speak fluent Chinese while mixing some with English. She is also the only cast member who has appeared in all 3 installments of the franchise thus far.[8]
- Patricia Mok[6] as Mdm. Mok, the discipline mistress of the primary school, similar to her role as Ms. Tan from I Not Stupid.
- Anna Lin Ruping[6] as Class 6A's English Teacher, not to be confused with her role as Mrs. Alicia Tan, the school principal from another secondary school from I Not Stupid Too.
- Xiong Lingyi as Xiao Hui, a Chinese mother and Wen Ting's best friend from Shanghai, China.[9]
- Lee Kin Mun, better known as mrbrown, as the director, CEO and school principal of Xin Yuan Fei Edu Hub, one of the tuition centres in Singapore.
- Chew Chong Tak as Class 6A's Chinese Teacher.
- Richard Low as Jerry Khoo reprising his role from I Not Stupid (cameo)[4]
- Jack Neo as Mr. Liu reprising his role from I Not Stupid (cameo)
Production
[edit]Lensing ceremony was held on 13 June 2023.[5][6]
In an interview, director Jack Neo said that the education system in Singapore has gone through numerous changes since the release of I Not Stupid in 2002 and I Not Stupid Too in 2006, and the film will explore the consequences when certain things remain unchanged.[6][10]
90% of the filming took place onsite at a local school, with filming taking around 10 hours per day and with no night shots. The film centres around the four child actors Zhou Yuchen (age 11 as of July 2023), Goh Wee-Ann (age 12 as of July 2023), Camans Kong (age 13 as of July 2023) and Joseph Ng Zhiyang (age 11 as of July 2023). More than 2,000 people reportedly participated in the auditions for the film.[11] Among the 4 main cast members, the film marked the acting debut of Joseph Ng Zhiyang.[4]
Filming was scheduled to last till mid July 2023.[4] The screenplay was partially written by two Chinese scriptwriters who are based in Singapore. On the cast members, Hu Jing is a Chinese actress from Chuxiong, Yunnan, Kunming, China and child actor Zhou Yuchen is also from Shanghai, China. Child actor Camans Kong is from Malaysia while newbie child actor Joseph Ng Zhiyang is from Singapore and previously resided in China for a couple of years. Child actress Goh Wee-Ann is active in the local television scene and has won the Star Awards for Young Talent twice.[5]
Release and reception
[edit]Neo revealed that the film was released on 6 June 2024 during the school holidays in Singapore.[5][12] It was also released in Malaysia on 13 June 2024, and in China on 16 August 2024 and will eventually be released in Taiwan on 20 September 2024.
Critical reception
[edit]Tay Yek Keak of 8days gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, opining that the film, "despite good performances from both sets of mothers and sons, is long, long-winded and, like a dreaded year-end exam, it gets stuck kinda in the same old loop", and that the long-windedness of the film feels "like an exam checklist and sends [the storyline] to an average, unremarkable graduation."[13]
References
[edit]- ^ 潘, 雪忆 (26 July 2023). "《小孩不笨》4位可爱童星 语出惊人爆料连连". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "I Not Stupid 3: Everything We Know About The Upcoming Sequel". AugustMan Singapore. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Jack Neo is making I Not Stupid 3, has started open auditions". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "中国童星11岁周俞辰 首赴新拍《小孩不笨3》 - 地方 - 狮城二三事". 星洲网 Sin Chew Daily Malaysia Latest News and Headlines (in Chinese (China)). 27 June 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d "《小孩不笨3》四童星曝光 容启航要当新一代老师 | 早报". Lianhe Zaobao (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "I Not Stupid 3: Jack Neo reveals cast comprising Collin Chee, Terence Cao, Patricia Mok, Glenn Yong". AsiaOne. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ 吴, 淑慧 (22 July 2023). "《小孩不笨3》开镜 容启航、林茜茜荧幕CP再续前缘". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "'I hope all 3 can return': Jack Neo wanted I Not Stupid child actors for 3rd movie". AsiaOne. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Lam, Kenme (5 June 2024). "'Don't think you're the best parents': I Not Stupid 3 spotlights parenting in S'pore". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "梁志强望子成龙望女成凤? | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "梁志强公布《小孩不笨3》部分卡士 容启航获选参演!". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "《小孩不笨3》学校取景 梁志强:现在的小孩很精明 | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ Tay, Yek Keak (6 June 2024). "I Not Stupid 3 Review: Jack Neo's Latest Chapter In Education-System Saga Is A Long-Winded Affair, Telling The Same-Old Stressed-Out Kids Story". 8days. Retrieved 27 August 2024.