Beautiful girls, rich men and a cruise ship ... Pisau Cukur looks like it has all the ingredients for an entertaining escapade.

LET’S be cynical for a minute. Do you really believe Cinderella was clueless when she dressed up to the nines and swanned off to the ball? She may have been little more than a maid, but there’s no denying she was out to bag a prince, and she got one.

Certainly, whenever a good-looking woman marries a rich man we ask the question: is it love or is she after his money?

Cruise comrades: (from left) Nur Fazura (as Intan), Shahredza Minhat (Faqir) and Maya Karin (Bella) in Bernard Chauly’s Pisau Cukur.

Hence, when director Bernard Chauly decides to use Pisau Cukur (which is the idiom in Malay for “gold digger” or a woman whose primary interest in a relationship is material benefits) as the theme and title for his latest film, one assumes the movie would be peppered with super-hot chicks and ageing millionaires.

Super hot chicks? Check. With the likes of Nur Fazura and Maya Karin playing the delectable lead roles of Intan and Bella respectively, the chick quotient is suitably met in this movie. This comedy of errors involves the two lovely ladies coming face to face with three Datuks (ageing millionaires? check), three Datuk’s wives, two Datuk’s children, one private detective and one obsessed fan.

Just who are the predators and who is the prey? Apparently, the filmmaker would have us believe that this is a voyage full of surprises, and anything can happen.

Thirty-five year old Bernard’s third outing, after Gol & Gincu and Goodbye Boys, is a cheerfully unbiased look at the lives of these two beautiful girls – Bella and Intan – as they voyage across the oceans in a cruise ship (the Putri Duyung), each seeking to fulfil their own needs.

After narrowing down the list of potential rich husbands available on the ship, Bella preys on Datuk Hisham (Eizlan Yusof) and enlists the help of a smitten fan Faqir (Shadredza Minhat) in her efforts to literally dance her way into Hisham’s heart. (Yes, apparently the actors all went for dancing classes ... so expect some cha-cha-cha in the mix!)

Then the plot thickens. One Datuk Zakaria (played by Datuk Rahim Razali, no less) is murdered on the ship and Intan partners up with reluctant detective Ari (Aaron Aziz) to solve the crime. Their investigation brings to light the whacky characters of Datuk Zakaria’s three wives and his eccentric children.

Nothing insanely original here (in fact, some may even find the movie strangely similar to the 1953 Betty Grable-Marilyn Monroe-Lauren Bacall film How To Marry A Millionaire), but the cast allows this ship-flick to sail through with flying colours.

Nur Fazura, 25, who reteams with Bernard after Gol & Gincu, revealed that it has been a fabulous experience playing the character of Intan, the ambitious TV presenter who has her heart set on a rich husband.

“I did a lot of research before playing Intan, and even hung around people who are in the business of dating other people’s husbands!”

The young starlet isn’t too concerned about people finding similarities between her real and reel self. “I don’t really care if people associate me with my character,” said Fazura, referring to her former rich suitors. Revealing that playing the part was very tough, Fazura also reckoned that it has been her best performance to date.

On the hunt: Maya Karin ( left) and Nur Fazura get to don some interesting costumes as they set out to net rich husbands in Pisau Cukur

“I’m happy if people are entertained with my acting,” she said, adding that she enjoyed working with last year’s Malaysian Film Festival best actress Maya (who won for Anak Halal).

Twenty-nine year old Maya claimed that it was her first time playing such an interesting character as Bella (mind you, she has quite a resume seeing that she’s acted as a pontianak and mermaid and has been a real-life veejay before!).

“I used to have a negative perception about ‘gold diggers’ like Bella but not anymore. I have a better understanding on why they are who they are. In the movie, Bella is a wonderful person. She has a grandmother and a sister to take care of and she feels that the easy way out is to marry a rich man who can give her financial security.”

Playing such a girlish character was a big challenge for Maya. “I kept telling myself that I had to be convincing. I watched a few Marilyn Monroe movies to get some ideas on how to play Bella.”

The award winning actress had no qualms about playing opposite newcomer 29-year-old Shahredza, who plays Faqir, the guy who is utterly smitten by Bella after watching her on a reality TV show.

“I was there during the audition for Faqir’s role. And I realised that we (Shahredza and I) had chemistry right away.”

The Maya-Fazura combo is the driving force behind the movie; but the duo is ably supported by Singapore-born Aaron, Shahredza and Eizlan. The ensemble cast is completed by well-known and multi-award winning director-actor Rahim Razali, Khatijah Tan, Umie Aida and Sharifah Sofia (who play Zakaria’s three wives respectively) as well as Liyana Jasmay and Nas-T.

Will love blossom between Datuk Hisham (Eizlan Yusof) and Bella (Maya Karin)?

Eizlan, 37, one of the Datuks onboard Pisau Cukur feels good about the movie. “It gives something fresh and new to cinema-goers. And a good movie will definitely entertain viewers from all walks of life. It’s a different kind of Malay movie ... it’s out-of-the-box, if you like.”

The movie’s dialogue is predominantly Malay but the humour is universal. It is loaded with smart and funny dialogue which will tickle one’s funny bone; costumes promise to be a highlight too (very “stylo-milo” they say). Pisau Cukur was shot in various locations around Kuala Lumpur and Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan, and filming only recently wrapped up.

Shot entirely on land, the Red Films team built sets and used computer graphics (CGI) to bring the cruise ship to life.

Aaron, 33, who plays the detective and also gets to “kiss” Fazura in the movie, admitted that he had doubts about the CGI in the film while shooting.

“I kept asking myself if the movie would be believable? Would the CGI be good enough to make it really look like we were onboard a cruise ship? But these doubts were put to rest during the recent gala premiere when I heard continuous laughter from viewers ... they seemed to enjoy the movie very much.”

Apparently, the premiere’s audience bought the whole cruise ship idea hook, line and sinker.

Explaining how the idea of Pisau Cukur came about, Bernard said: “Lina Tan (producer), Rafidah Abdullah (scriptwriter) and I work very well together, having done Gol & Gincu and other projects. Rafidah had an idea about writing a film set on a cruise ship and another idea about gold diggers. Lina combined the two and pitched it as a film about gold diggers ... set on a cruise ship. The result? Pisau Cukur is fun, sharp, empowering!” said Bernard, who seems pleased as punch with his new movie and feels it is his best work to date.

To ensure that Pisau Cukur remained original in some ways, Bernard made it a point to not watch similar movies.

“I purposely didn’t watch any movie before working on Pisau Cukur because I wanted to make the one I already envisioned in my head. I didn’t want to imitate any other movie. My biggest challenge was to create fresh and unique comedy which was also universal so that anyone can relate to it,” explained Bernard. “I’m so happy that all actors played their roles well.

“I was initially surprised to have established stars agreeing to act. They are all leading actors in their own right, and to actually agree to play supporting roles and cameos in Pisau Cukur ... it was a great honour for me to have them onboard.”

Despite the title, Bernard said that the movie focuses more on how the characters evolve and not just what they want to get their hands on. The movie does have a moral at the end, and Bernard is optimistic about its effect: “This is a story that will motivate audiences.”

> Pisau Cukur is currently screening in cinemas nationwide.

• Loving the past
• Pick up a gambus
• Movie on his mind