I Not Stupid
Encyclopedia
I Not Stupid is a Singaporean comedy film
about the lives, struggles, and adventures of three Primary 6 pupils who are placed in the academically inferior EM3 stream. Written and directed
by Jack Neo
, and produced
by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures
, the movie stars Xiang Yun
, Richard Low
, Selena Tan
, Shawn Lee, Huang Po Ju
and Joshua Ang
. Released in cinemas on 9 February 2002, I Not Stupid earned over S$
3.8 million and is the third-highest grossing Singapore
an movie, after Money No Enough
and its 2006 sequel, I Not Stupid Too
. Its satirical
criticism of the Singaporean education system
and social attitudes in Singapore sparked public discussions and parliamentary debates that led to reforms in the education system.
for the film was the Iranian movie Children of Heaven
. Neo and his wife were moved to "holding hands and crying after seeing the love shared by the children", which motivated him to make his own movie about youth. After speaking with parents in order to find topics to discuss in his film, Neo learned that due to problems with the Singaporean education system, specifically streaming, students face considerable academic and emotional stress. This problem formed the core of his film, which he called I Not Stupid in reference to the social stigma
streaming places on students.
Neo also drew on a dissatisfaction he felt with the way the school system promoted deference to authority
over self-reliance; he wanted his film to tell youth "If you don't want to change or make a difference, you won't. It's all up to you." In exploring these ideas, Neo spent over two years researching and editing the script
— checking scenes for accuracy, verifying facts, and drafting dialogue. Altogether, the work went through thirteen different revisions, and saw over 50 children audition for the lead roles, before Neo decided to send I Not Stupid into production.
This production was carried out by Raintree Pictures on a budget of S$900,000, sponsored by Bee Cheng Hiang
, Yeo Hiap Seng
and Sunshine Bakeries. The production crew included Daniel Yun
as executive producer, David Leong and Chan Pui Yin
as producers, Ardy Lam as cinematographer
and Li Yi as music supervisor. In addition to writing and directing, Neo also composed the theme song, which was sung by Chen Guorong. The actual filming took place at Braddell Westlake Secondary School and Westlake Primary School over a period of 24 days, and the film found distribution through Raintree Pictures and United International Pictures
.
The film's storyline revolves around the lives and families of three students in the EM3 academic stream, Terry Khoo, Liu Kok Pin and Ang Boon Hock. Terry, pampered and from a rich family, is a meek and obedient boy, with a domineering mother and a negligent businessman father. Kok Pin is pushed to excel at school by his reluctantly-abusive mother, but he shows a talent for art, not academics — much to the consternation of his family. Boon Hock and his mother struggle to make ends meet with an absent father by running a small wonton noodle stall; to make up for the lack of a father figure, he places high value on loyalty and "manliness" in his friends.
The boys are often bullied for being in the "stupid" stream, which eventually leads to a fight during which one of the bullies is accidentally injured. In the principal's office, Boon Hock and Kok Pin explain what happened, but Terry declines to help them and stand up for himself, following his mother's instructions to "mind his own business", which infuriates his friends and causes trouble between the boys.
Meanwhile, Terry's father, Mr. Khoo gets in a fight with a man who turns out to be Kok Pin's father, Mr. Liu, over a parking space. Mr. Khoo's company is a client for Mr. Liu's firm, an advertising agency
, and their new-found enmity causes Mr. Khoo to select the marketing campaign of John, an American expatriate, over that of Mr. Liu. As John's ideas are totally incompatible with Chinese customs, Mr. Khoo's business suffers as his customers are driven away.
As the boys deal with their problems, a new teacher at school helps by inspiring Boon Hock to excel in Mathematics, while reaching out to the other boys. Kok Pin continues to struggle, and enlists Boon Hock to help him cheat in the Preliminary examinations, but they are caught. Unable to face his mother, Kok Pin attempts suicide, but fails. When he finally tells her, she tries to punish him but collapses; a doctor later diagnoses her with leukaemia, and tells Kok Pin that she will die without a bone marrow transplant
.
As the end of the year approaches, Boon Hock excels in the PSLE
Mathematics exam, while the other boys manage to scrape by — Kok Pin only marginally. Contrary to Kok Pin's fears, his mother is satisfied because he has tried his best. When visiting Mrs. Liu at the hospital, the EM3 teacher announces that one of Kok Pin's drawings won second prize in an international competition, but the moment is overshadowed by the rush to save Mrs. Liu's life. Mr. Khoo passes the transplant test, but refuses to donate after discovering the intended recipient is his enemy's wife. He eventually relents, but it is revealed that due to a mix-up Terry, not Mr. Khoo, is the suitable donor. Despite protests from his parents, he insists on undergoing the operation, which is a success. A grateful Mr. Liu offers to help Mr. Khoo's business with his proposal. As a result, Mr. Khoo's business booms, and the two enemies become good friends. The film ends with Terry being bullied again, as in the beginning of the movie — but this time, he stands up for himself and fights back.
, including streaming in the education system
, deference to authority, and sociocultural stereotypes. The film can be read as an allegory for Singaporean society — the pampered protagonist and narrator
, Terry, is an "everyman
;" deferent and coddled, with a domineering mother and affluent father. Terry's intellectual failings lead him to be placed in the inferior EM3 stream, which becomes the driving force behind the storyline.
The subsequent stigma
placed upon the narrator illustrates how the Singaporean education system promotes academic elitism
, with students in lower streams looked down upon as inferior, making it harder for them to catch up and realise their potential (see Pygmalion effect
), even if they are not necessarily stupid. This kiasu
mentality puts mounting pressure upon the protagonists of the film, confounding them as they attempt to improve their standing and ameliorate their reputation in a society which judges them "worthless".
Terry's mother, Mrs. Khoo, is a "thinly veiled stand-in for the [Singapore] government", whose "mother-knows-best" mentality is well-meaning, but strips her children of their freedom. She demands total obedience, and her repeated lines "Do you know how lucky you are to have a good and responsible mother?" and "This is all for your own good" parody the Singapore government's
efforts to convince Singaporeans that government policies and actions is in the best interests of the nation. Mrs. Khoo also uses her position of power to buy off rebellion in her charges with gifts and bribes, in a pointed criticism of the government's social policies. Other characters in the film comment on this relationship — for instance, in one scene, Mr. Liu states that "it is difficult to catch fish in Singapore, because fish in Singapore are like Singaporeans; they'll never open their mouths", poking fun at the Singaporean trait of obedience and respect for authority.
The film also touches on other issues including Chinese self-loathing (wherein Singaporean companies regard Western
expatriate
s as inherently superior to local workers), suicide
, the use of Singlish
, and the differences between English and Chinese.
. In 2006, the sequel I Not Stupid Too
grossed over S$4 million, replacing the original movie as the second-highest grossing Singapore movie of all time.
Over 50,000 VCD
s of I Not Stupid were sold and its sole distributor, VideoVan, declared it the "No. 1 selling VCD in Singapore". This claim was disputed by Alliance Entertainment
, which distributed Money No Enough
, and said that 70,000 VCDs of that title were sold. VideoVan replied, calling the comparison inaccurate, as Money No Enough was a mature title, rather than a new release.
Following its success in Singapore, I Not Stupid was released in Malaysia (on 28 March), Thailand
(in 2004) and Hong Kong
(on 20 June) grossing HK$5 million at the Hong Kong box office. I Not Stupid also screened at a number of festivals in 2002, including the Pusan International Film Festival
, the Tokyo International Film Festival
, the Bangkok International Film Festival
, the Seattle International Film Festival
, and the Jakarta International Film Festival
. The film was also received a positive reception when it was showcased in London during the 2005 "Singapore Season" cultural exhibition.
I Not Stupid won several awards, including the Best Chinese Film Award, at the Golden Bauhinia Awards
, and the Best Chinese Humanitarian Film Award at the 2002 Taiwan Golden Torch Awards. The film was also nominated for Best Asian Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards
, but lost to My Sassy Girl
.
Critics praised the film for its humour and uniqueness, noting that it touched a raw nerve among Singaporeans. For example, Sanjuro of LoveHKFilm.com wrote, "I Not Stupid covers a variety of serious subjects, but all the while maintains a light comedic touch. Jack Neo [makes this film] a clever, well-crafted social commentary and a damn good film to boot." Other reviewers described I Not Stupid as "one of the greatest cinematic feats I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing" and displaying a "simple and yet excellent execution". In contrast, FilmAsia reviewer Soh Yun-Huei, found it "most shocking...that the Singapore censors
actually allowed this film through in the first place".
Despite containing satirical criticism of government policies, the film received a positive response from the government of Singapore
. Former Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong
commended Jack Neo's creative talent during the National Day Rally address on 18 August 2002. In 2004, Neo was the first local film-maker to receive a National Day Award, and on 21 October 2005, he and Dick Lee
became the first pop culture artists to receive the Cultural Medallion
, Singapore's highest arts award.
The film sparked debate about the negative aspects of streaming in the Singapore education system. In an interview, Neo said that streaming "judges you. If you're not good enough, you're useless. In our society, everyone feels like that sometimes." After much public discussion and parliamentary debate, the Ministry of Education
decided in 2004 to merge the EM1 and EM2 streams, and on 29 September 2006, it announced that the EM3 stream will be scrapped by 2008.
every Saturday from 9 p.m. to 9.30pm, starting 24 August 2002. Although Jack Neo did not write the script or direct the TV version, he worked with story planners and starred as Mr. Liu. In an interview, Jack Neo stated that the TV version gave him more opportunities to expand on issues or details that could not be sufficiently covered in the movie. The TV version of I Not Stupid received several nominations at the Star Awards 2002
: Best Sitcom (won), Best Theme Song, Best Comedy Performer (Richard Low) and Young Talent Award (Shawn Lee, Joshua Ang and Huang Po Ju), with Shawn Lee winning the Young Talent Award.
A second movie, I Not Stupid Too
, was released on 27 January 2006. The story and characters in I Not Stupid Too are different from those in I Not Stupid; the film touches on other issues, most notably miscommunication between teens and adults. Jack Neo has announced plans to capitalise on the continued success of the series by making more sequels.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
about the lives, struggles, and adventures of three Primary 6 pupils who are placed in the academically inferior EM3 stream. Written and directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Jack Neo
Jack Neo
Jack Neo Chee Keong , PBM, credited as Jack Neo on screen, is a Chinese Singaporean film and television actor, host and director...
, and produced
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
by MediaCorp Raintree Pictures
MediaCorp Raintree Pictures
MediaCorp Raintree Pictures is a film production company based in Singapore. The company, a division of MediaCorp Group, was established in 31 March 1996. The company occasionally ties up with other film companies to produce Asian or Western films...
, the movie stars Xiang Yun
Xiang Yun
Xiang Yun ) is a Singaporean actress from MediaCorp. She is considered as one of the veteran actresses in MediaCorp with 27 years of her career in the Singaporean entertainment industry. She is also deemed as MediaCorp's first "Ah Jie" ....
, Richard Low
Richard Low
Richard Low , also known as Richard Low Qianyi or Richard Liu Qianyi; also spelled as Richard Loh, is a Singaporean Chinese veteran MediaCorp TV Channel 8 actor. He used to be typecast as villains or characters with unruly behaviour...
, Selena Tan
Selena Tan
Selena Tan is an actress and the owner of Dream Academy, most notable as one of the famous Dim Sum Dollies. Tan started acting at age 14. She was educated at Fairfield Medthodist Secondary School and graduated with a law degree from National University of Singapore.-Movies and TV appearances:*...
, Shawn Lee, Huang Po Ju
Huang Po Ju
Eric Po Ju Huang is a former Taiwan-born Singaporean actor, most notable for his role as Terry in the Singaporean hit film I Not Stupid.-Background:...
and Joshua Ang
Joshua Ang
Joshua Ang Ser Kian is a Mediacorp artiste from Singapore who starred alongside Shawn Lee in the film I Not Stupid and its sequel I Not Stupid Too.Ang studied at Pasir Ris Secondary School....
. Released in cinemas on 9 February 2002, I Not Stupid earned over S$
Singapore dollar
The Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
3.8 million and is the third-highest grossing Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an movie, after Money No Enough
Money No Enough
Money No Enough is a Singaporean comedy film about three friends with financial problems who start a car polishing business together. Written by Jack Neo, directed by Tay Teck Lock and produced by JSP Films, the movie stars Neo, Mark Lee and Henry Thia...
and its 2006 sequel, I Not Stupid Too
I Not Stupid Too
I Not Stupid Too is a 2006 Singaporean film and the sequel to the 2002 film, I Not Stupid. A satirical comedy, I Not Stupid Too portrays the lives, struggles and adventures of three Singaporean youths—15-year-old Tom, his 8-year-old brother Jerry and their 15-year-old friend Chengcai—who have a...
. Its satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
criticism of the Singaporean education system
Education in Singapore
Education in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education , which controls the development and administration of state schools receiving government funding, but also has an advisory and supervisory role in respect of private schools...
and social attitudes in Singapore sparked public discussions and parliamentary debates that led to reforms in the education system.
Production
Jack Neo's inspirationArtistic inspiration
Inspiration refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in a literary, musical, or other artistic endeavour. Literally, the word means "breathed upon," and it has its origins in both Hellenism and Hebraism. The Greeks believed that inspiration came from the muses, as well as the gods Apollo and...
for the film was the Iranian movie Children of Heaven
Children of Heaven
Children of Heaven is a 1997 Iranian adventure comedy-drama film written and directed by Majid Majidi. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998...
. Neo and his wife were moved to "holding hands and crying after seeing the love shared by the children", which motivated him to make his own movie about youth. After speaking with parents in order to find topics to discuss in his film, Neo learned that due to problems with the Singaporean education system, specifically streaming, students face considerable academic and emotional stress. This problem formed the core of his film, which he called I Not Stupid in reference to the social stigma
Social stigma
Social stigma is the severe disapproval of or discontent with a person on the grounds of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of a society.Almost all stigma is based on a person differing from social or cultural norms...
streaming places on students.
Neo also drew on a dissatisfaction he felt with the way the school system promoted deference to authority
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
over self-reliance; he wanted his film to tell youth "If you don't want to change or make a difference, you won't. It's all up to you." In exploring these ideas, Neo spent over two years researching and editing the script
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
— checking scenes for accuracy, verifying facts, and drafting dialogue. Altogether, the work went through thirteen different revisions, and saw over 50 children audition for the lead roles, before Neo decided to send I Not Stupid into production.
This production was carried out by Raintree Pictures on a budget of S$900,000, sponsored by Bee Cheng Hiang
Bee Cheng Hiang
Bee Cheng Hiang is a company that produces Asian-style foodstuffs, especially that of Singaporean cuisine. Started as a market stall in 1933 in Singapore, the company had expanded its operations to countries such as Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines and China...
, Yeo Hiap Seng
Yeo Hiap Seng
Yeo Hiap Seng Limited is an investment holding company as well as a drink manufacturer in Singapore and Malaysia. It produces its own Asian drinks and has the license from Pepsico to produce Pepsi, 7 Up, Mountain Dew, Mirinda and Mug Root Beer...
and Sunshine Bakeries. The production crew included Daniel Yun
Daniel Yun
Daniel Yun is a veteran Singaporean film producer, presenter and managing director for MediaCorp Raintree Pictures. He has gone on to co-produce and finance over 20 films made in China and Hong Kong.-Biography:...
as executive producer, David Leong and Chan Pui Yin
Chan Pui Yin
Chan Pui Yin is a film producer. She has been with MediaCorp Raintree Pictures from 2000 to 2008. She has produced Raintree’s movies like I Not Stupid , I Not Stupid Too , Homerun , The Maid and involved in collaborations like The Eye , The Eye 2 , Turn Left Turn Right , Infernal Affairs II and...
as producers, Ardy Lam as cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
and Li Yi as music supervisor. In addition to writing and directing, Neo also composed the theme song, which was sung by Chen Guorong. The actual filming took place at Braddell Westlake Secondary School and Westlake Primary School over a period of 24 days, and the film found distribution through Raintree Pictures and United International Pictures
United International Pictures
United International Pictures is a joint venture of Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios , to distribute some of the two studios' films theatrically outside the United States , Canada, and the Anglophone...
.
Plot
The boys are often bullied for being in the "stupid" stream, which eventually leads to a fight during which one of the bullies is accidentally injured. In the principal's office, Boon Hock and Kok Pin explain what happened, but Terry declines to help them and stand up for himself, following his mother's instructions to "mind his own business", which infuriates his friends and causes trouble between the boys.
Meanwhile, Terry's father, Mr. Khoo gets in a fight with a man who turns out to be Kok Pin's father, Mr. Liu, over a parking space. Mr. Khoo's company is a client for Mr. Liu's firm, an advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
, and their new-found enmity causes Mr. Khoo to select the marketing campaign of John, an American expatriate, over that of Mr. Liu. As John's ideas are totally incompatible with Chinese customs, Mr. Khoo's business suffers as his customers are driven away.
Bone marrow transplant
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the transplantation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cell or blood, usually derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, or umbilical cord blood...
.
As the end of the year approaches, Boon Hock excels in the PSLE
Primary School Leaving Examination
The Primary School Leaving Examination is a national examination taken by all students in Singapore near the end of primary six in primary school, which is also their last year in Primary school before they leave for secondary school. It is administered by the Ministry of Education...
Mathematics exam, while the other boys manage to scrape by — Kok Pin only marginally. Contrary to Kok Pin's fears, his mother is satisfied because he has tried his best. When visiting Mrs. Liu at the hospital, the EM3 teacher announces that one of Kok Pin's drawings won second prize in an international competition, but the moment is overshadowed by the rush to save Mrs. Liu's life. Mr. Khoo passes the transplant test, but refuses to donate after discovering the intended recipient is his enemy's wife. He eventually relents, but it is revealed that due to a mix-up Terry, not Mr. Khoo, is the suitable donor. Despite protests from his parents, he insists on undergoing the operation, which is a success. A grateful Mr. Liu offers to help Mr. Khoo's business with his proposal. As a result, Mr. Khoo's business booms, and the two enemies become good friends. The film ends with Terry being bullied again, as in the beginning of the movie — but this time, he stands up for himself and fights back.
Cast
The main characters of the movie were played by the following actors:- Jack NeoJack NeoJack Neo Chee Keong , PBM, credited as Jack Neo on screen, is a Chinese Singaporean film and television actor, host and director...
as Mr. Liu - Xiang YunXiang YunXiang Yun ) is a Singaporean actress from MediaCorp. She is considered as one of the veteran actresses in MediaCorp with 27 years of her career in the Singaporean entertainment industry. She is also deemed as MediaCorp's first "Ah Jie" ....
as Mrs. Liu - Richard LowRichard LowRichard Low , also known as Richard Low Qianyi or Richard Liu Qianyi; also spelled as Richard Loh, is a Singaporean Chinese veteran MediaCorp TV Channel 8 actor. He used to be typecast as villains or characters with unruly behaviour...
as Mr. Khoo - Selena TanSelena TanSelena Tan is an actress and the owner of Dream Academy, most notable as one of the famous Dim Sum Dollies. Tan started acting at age 14. She was educated at Fairfield Medthodist Secondary School and graduated with a law degree from National University of Singapore.-Movies and TV appearances:*...
as Mrs. Khoo - Shawn Lee as Liu Kok Pin
- Joshua AngJoshua AngJoshua Ang Ser Kian is a Mediacorp artiste from Singapore who starred alongside Shawn Lee in the film I Not Stupid and its sequel I Not Stupid Too.Ang studied at Pasir Ris Secondary School....
as Ang Boon Hock - Huang Po JuHuang Po JuEric Po Ju Huang is a former Taiwan-born Singaporean actor, most notable for his role as Terry in the Singaporean hit film I Not Stupid.-Background:...
as Terry Khoo - Cheryl Chan as Selena Khoo
Political satire
I Not Stupid criticises many aspects of modern Singaporean cultureCulture of Singapore
Singapore was a part of British Malaya for many centuries. It was ruled by the Sultanate of Johor. In 1819, the British came to the Island and set up a port and colony. During British rule, the port of Singapore flourished and attracted many migrants...
, including streaming in the education system
Education in Singapore
Education in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education , which controls the development and administration of state schools receiving government funding, but also has an advisory and supervisory role in respect of private schools...
, deference to authority, and sociocultural stereotypes. The film can be read as an allegory for Singaporean society — the pampered protagonist and narrator
Narrator
A narrator is, within any story , the fictional or non-fictional, personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the viewpoint character. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for...
, Terry, is an "everyman
Everyman
In literature and drama, the term everyman has come to mean an ordinary individual, with whom the audience or reader is supposed to be able to identify easily, and who is often placed in extraordinary circumstances...
;" deferent and coddled, with a domineering mother and affluent father. Terry's intellectual failings lead him to be placed in the inferior EM3 stream, which becomes the driving force behind the storyline.
The subsequent stigma
Social stigma
Social stigma is the severe disapproval of or discontent with a person on the grounds of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of a society.Almost all stigma is based on a person differing from social or cultural norms...
placed upon the narrator illustrates how the Singaporean education system promotes academic elitism
Academic elitism
Academic elitism is a charge sometimes levied at academic institutions and academics more broadly, arguing that academia or academics are prone to undeserved and/or pernicious elitism; the term "ivory tower" often carries with it an implicit critique of academic elitism...
, with students in lower streams looked down upon as inferior, making it harder for them to catch up and realise their potential (see Pygmalion effect
Pygmalion effect
The Pygmalion effect, or Rosenthal effect, refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the expectation placed upon people, often children or students and employees, the better they perform...
), even if they are not necessarily stupid. This kiasu
Kiasu
Kiasu is a Hokkien word that literally means 'fear of losing' . However its actual usage would imply a meaning more approaching that of "dog in a manger", and yet not quite...
mentality puts mounting pressure upon the protagonists of the film, confounding them as they attempt to improve their standing and ameliorate their reputation in a society which judges them "worthless".
Terry's mother, Mrs. Khoo, is a "thinly veiled stand-in for the [Singapore] government", whose "mother-knows-best" mentality is well-meaning, but strips her children of their freedom. She demands total obedience, and her repeated lines "Do you know how lucky you are to have a good and responsible mother?" and "This is all for your own good" parody the Singapore government's
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
efforts to convince Singaporeans that government policies and actions is in the best interests of the nation. Mrs. Khoo also uses her position of power to buy off rebellion in her charges with gifts and bribes, in a pointed criticism of the government's social policies. Other characters in the film comment on this relationship — for instance, in one scene, Mr. Liu states that "it is difficult to catch fish in Singapore, because fish in Singapore are like Singaporeans; they'll never open their mouths", poking fun at the Singaporean trait of obedience and respect for authority.
The film also touches on other issues including Chinese self-loathing (wherein Singaporean companies regard Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s as inherently superior to local workers), suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, the use of Singlish
Singlish
Colloquial Singaporean English, also known as Singlish, is an English-based creole language spoken in Singapore.Singlish is commonly regarded with low prestige in Singapore. The Singaporean government and many Singaporeans alike heavily discourage the use of Singlish in favour of Standard English...
, and the differences between English and Chinese.
Reception
I Not Stupid earned just S$46,000 during a limited sneak preview run, prompting Raintree Pictures to embark on a massive publicity campaign, including invitations for teachers to discuss the film. After showing for four months on 30 screens the movie earned S$3.8 million, becoming Singapore's second-highest grossing movie after Money No EnoughMoney No Enough
Money No Enough is a Singaporean comedy film about three friends with financial problems who start a car polishing business together. Written by Jack Neo, directed by Tay Teck Lock and produced by JSP Films, the movie stars Neo, Mark Lee and Henry Thia...
. In 2006, the sequel I Not Stupid Too
I Not Stupid Too
I Not Stupid Too is a 2006 Singaporean film and the sequel to the 2002 film, I Not Stupid. A satirical comedy, I Not Stupid Too portrays the lives, struggles and adventures of three Singaporean youths—15-year-old Tom, his 8-year-old brother Jerry and their 15-year-old friend Chengcai—who have a...
grossed over S$4 million, replacing the original movie as the second-highest grossing Singapore movie of all time.
Over 50,000 VCD
VCD
VCD is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* VCD Athletic, semi-professional football team* Video CD* Voice command device* Value change dump * Vocal cord dysfunction* Visual Communication and Design...
s of I Not Stupid were sold and its sole distributor, VideoVan, declared it the "No. 1 selling VCD in Singapore". This claim was disputed by Alliance Entertainment
Alliance Entertainment
Alliance Entertainment, LLC is a distributor of music, movies, and game software. From 1995 through 2005, Alliance Entertainment was also the parent company of All Media Guide. In 2005, it merged with Source Interlink. Platinum Equity and the Gores Group acquired Alliance in 2010....
, which distributed Money No Enough
Money No Enough
Money No Enough is a Singaporean comedy film about three friends with financial problems who start a car polishing business together. Written by Jack Neo, directed by Tay Teck Lock and produced by JSP Films, the movie stars Neo, Mark Lee and Henry Thia...
, and said that 70,000 VCDs of that title were sold. VideoVan replied, calling the comparison inaccurate, as Money No Enough was a mature title, rather than a new release.
Following its success in Singapore, I Not Stupid was released in Malaysia (on 28 March), Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(in 2004) and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
(on 20 June) grossing HK$5 million at the Hong Kong box office. I Not Stupid also screened at a number of festivals in 2002, including the Pusan International Film Festival
Pusan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...
, the Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biannually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
, the Bangkok International Film Festival
Bangkok International Film Festival
The Bangkok International Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.-First years:...
, the Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees...
, and the Jakarta International Film Festival
Jakarta International Film Festival
The Jakarta International Film Festival is the major film festival of Indonesia held every December in the capital, Jakarta, since 1999....
. The film was also received a positive reception when it was showcased in London during the 2005 "Singapore Season" cultural exhibition.
I Not Stupid won several awards, including the Best Chinese Film Award, at the Golden Bauhinia Awards
Golden Bauhinia Awards
Golden Bauhinia Awards is a Hong Kong film award organised by the Hong Kong Film Critics Association. Its first award presentation ceremony took place in 1996....
, and the Best Chinese Humanitarian Film Award at the 2002 Taiwan Golden Torch Awards. The film was also nominated for Best Asian Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards
Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
, but lost to My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl is a 2001 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong. It tells the story of a man's chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train which changes his life...
.
Critics praised the film for its humour and uniqueness, noting that it touched a raw nerve among Singaporeans. For example, Sanjuro of LoveHKFilm.com wrote, "I Not Stupid covers a variety of serious subjects, but all the while maintains a light comedic touch. Jack Neo [makes this film] a clever, well-crafted social commentary and a damn good film to boot." Other reviewers described I Not Stupid as "one of the greatest cinematic feats I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing" and displaying a "simple and yet excellent execution". In contrast, FilmAsia reviewer Soh Yun-Huei, found it "most shocking...that the Singapore censors
Censorship in Singapore
Censorship in Singapore mainly targets sexual, political, racial and religious issues, as defined by out-of-bounds markers.-Implementation:The Media Development Authority approves publications, issues arts entertainment licences and enforces the Free-to-air TV Programme Code, Cable TV Programme...
actually allowed this film through in the first place".
Despite containing satirical criticism of government policies, the film received a positive response from the government of Singapore
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
. Former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
commended Jack Neo's creative talent during the National Day Rally address on 18 August 2002. In 2004, Neo was the first local film-maker to receive a National Day Award, and on 21 October 2005, he and Dick Lee
Dick Lee
Richard "Dick" Lee Peng Boon is a Singaporean pop singer, composer, songwriter, and playwright. He is best known as a Singapore Idol judge, but often too as spokesperson for the New Asian generation....
became the first pop culture artists to receive the Cultural Medallion
Cultural Medallion
The Cultural Medallion is a Singapore cultural award conferred to those who have achieved artistic excellence in dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film....
, Singapore's highest arts award.
The film sparked debate about the negative aspects of streaming in the Singapore education system. In an interview, Neo said that streaming "judges you. If you're not good enough, you're useless. In our society, everyone feels like that sometimes." After much public discussion and parliamentary debate, the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Singapore)
The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to education in Singapore.-Statutory boards:...
decided in 2004 to merge the EM1 and EM2 streams, and on 29 September 2006, it announced that the EM3 stream will be scrapped by 2008.
Sequels and spinoffs
Following the success of the film, MediaCorp developed a TV version of I Not Stupid; the drama serial consisted of 18 30-minute episodes, broadcast on Channel 8MediaCorp TV Channel 8
MediaCorp Channel 8 is a 24-hour free-to-air Mandarin Chinese general entertainment television channel in Singapore...
every Saturday from 9 p.m. to 9.30pm, starting 24 August 2002. Although Jack Neo did not write the script or direct the TV version, he worked with story planners and starred as Mr. Liu. In an interview, Jack Neo stated that the TV version gave him more opportunities to expand on issues or details that could not be sufficiently covered in the movie. The TV version of I Not Stupid received several nominations at the Star Awards 2002
Star Awards 2002
Star Awards 2002 is a television award telecast in 2002 as part of the annual Star Awards organised by MediaCorp for MediaCorp TV Channel 8.-Nominees and winners:Winners are highlighted in bold.Best Actor 最佳男主角...
: Best Sitcom (won), Best Theme Song, Best Comedy Performer (Richard Low) and Young Talent Award (Shawn Lee, Joshua Ang and Huang Po Ju), with Shawn Lee winning the Young Talent Award.
A second movie, I Not Stupid Too
I Not Stupid Too
I Not Stupid Too is a 2006 Singaporean film and the sequel to the 2002 film, I Not Stupid. A satirical comedy, I Not Stupid Too portrays the lives, struggles and adventures of three Singaporean youths—15-year-old Tom, his 8-year-old brother Jerry and their 15-year-old friend Chengcai—who have a...
, was released on 27 January 2006. The story and characters in I Not Stupid Too are different from those in I Not Stupid; the film touches on other issues, most notably miscommunication between teens and adults. Jack Neo has announced plans to capitalise on the continued success of the series by making more sequels.