The Diary of a Big Man (1988) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

In a rain‑slick Hong Kong that feels simultaneously mundane and fantastical, a charismatic schemer named Chow Ting‑fat chases a dream of wealth and endless admiration. He moves through bustling streets and cramped apartments with the swagger of a man convinced he can master life’s timing, while the city’s neon glow and perpetual downpours set a comedic, slightly absurd backdrop for his ambitions.

Joey, a stylish boutique owner, and Sally, an air‑hostess with a bubbly temperament, become the two women at the center of Chow’s carefully plotted double life. To keep his worlds from colliding, he enlists his loyal confidant Chi‑hung, a longtime friend whose patience is tested by the ever‑growing list of alibis, and Chi‑hung’s own determined fiancée Ka‑lai, who senses that something is amiss. Meanwhile, the ever‑present Inspector Cheng circles the periphery, his meddling curiosity adding another layer of tension to the already precarious charade. The film’s tone balances slapstick misdirection with sharp wit, turning each elaborate excuse into a playful dance of deception.

As mishaps multiply and the police officer’s investigations inch closer, the fragile balance of Chow’s scheme begins to wobble. The two wives, initially unaware of each other, start to sense the cracks in his narrative, and their unexpected connection draws Ka‑lai into a joint front against the duplicitous trio. The story swirls with farcical set‑pieces, rapid‑fire wordplay, and a bustling urban rhythm that keeps the audience wondering just how long such a tangled web can hold together before the inevitable showdown unfolds.