Counterattack

TV sports host Ren Xiaoyu (played by Li Xiang) happens to pass by a fast-food restaurant and spontaneously interviews diner Wang Dashan (played by Li Chengru). Though usually critical of the city team, Wang boasts on live TV that he'll form his own "Baozi Team" to challenge them. His drunken claim is broadcast live, sparking huge excitement among local fans. What started as a bluff quickly spirals into a public spectacle. The station, along with Xiaoyu, is forced to turn the joke into reality. Cultural department chief Qian Ning (played by Li Junfeng) and Xiaoyu scramble to recruit the restaurant’s owner and staff as players. They shut down the shop and begin training with the motto: “We won’t steam buns, but we’ll fight for pride!” Meanwhile, a rival team—the well-funded “International United”—also takes up the challenge, vowing to crush the underdogs. A fierce showdown is about to begin...

Directed by Liang Tian, Counterattack leans on a strong ensemble — Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Li Xiang, Li Chengru — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 2000.