How much money is enough? Jack Neo and Mark Lee weigh in while talking about Money No Enough 3
At a press conference for the film, Mark Lee also said money was getting 'smaller', as the cost of living in Singapore is rising but 'salary doesn't increase'.
The Money No Enough franchise is arguably one of the most well-known local films in Singapore cinema, and it’s making a return in the form of a third film, also starring the trio of Jack Neo, Mark Lee, and Henry Thia.
While it took 10 years to make a sequel to the original Money No Enough (released in 1998), the third instalment took a little longer, because Neo said he couldn’t grasp the concept of “money” and how it has changed.
“It doesn’t mean that I have enough money and that’s why I can’t shoot Money No Enough 3,” Neo, 63, clarified at a press conference on Tuesday (10 Oct) announcing the film.
“But I’ve discovered that I’ve finally grasped it because money now isn’t money anymore. It’s just numbers. When you buy things, you’re going cashless… then add on cryptocurrency, NFT, and the way to earn money has changed for the entire world,” he said.
Neo also pointed out scammers who commit heartless acts for the sake of money, and said he felt it was the right time to make a film to remind people not to live just for money.
The director advised people not to sacrifice things like friendship and family for money, noting that they have a “joint relationship”.
He said separately, “I think money is very important but you must not sacrifice other things just for money…You might not find those again if you sacrifice them.”
How much is enough?
Well, the film couldn’t have come at a better time considering how much discussion there has been surrounding the cost of living in Singapore.
Which raises the question - how much money is enough then?
Lee, 54, mulled for a bit and replied, “Money will get ‘smaller’ as the ‘environment’ gets more expensive. So I think if you buy a car today and don’t have to consider the COE, then I think it’s enough.
“Because our cost of living and sundry prices continuously increase - of course, the relevant authorities are helping us - but our salary doesn’t increase.”
The Golden Horse-nominated actor said this is a “big problem” for a lot of people.
He added that while your salary might have increased, for example, from five figures to six figures, but your cost of living might have also seen a stark increase.
“So I’ll tell you, it’s never enough,” he said.
“Whether it’s enough, it depends on you and your living requirements. If you think $1,000 can support a family, okay, that’s enough. If you earn $100,000 and feel it’s not enough, then it’s because your quality of living is high.”
He quipped, “Of course, for the three of us, if money was enough, we wouldn’t be sitting here.”
Money No Enough 3 will release in 2024.
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