Harry Dean (Michael Caine) follows a woman through the streets of Hong Kong. She goes into a club. There, Dean and another man watch as she performs with other dancers in a floor show. Both agree that the woman is perfect for their plan. Dean offers Nicole Chang (Shirley MacLaine) $5000 and a British passport if she will pose as his wife. When Sir Harold and Lady Nicole arrive in a middle eastern country, she is now a brunette who bares an uncanny resemblance to the dead wife of Ahmad Shahbandar (Herbert Lom). Shahbandar, reportedly the richest man in the world, invites them to dinner and marvels at Nicole. In Shahbandar's apartment, there is a priceless sculpture of an ancient Chinese empress; the resemblance to Nicole is startling. This is what Harry intends to steal.
Here is a heist/comedy/romance. Like many movies of this type, there is the idealized heist as planned which looks foolproof and then the actual heist that sees a variety of comical setbacks. This comes off quite well and is entertaining. The romance is not only secondary, but something of a surprise. The scenes between Harry and Nicole are mostly him being annoyed at her chattiness. When he professes his love for her, it comes as a surprise. Really, I thought it was just as likely that he would abandon her to be caught.
Fun and light. A must for fans of either Michael Caine or Shirley MacLaine. Good popcorn fun.
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