Hong Kong English/Cantonese (XXVIII)

A Hongkongese MC/Comedian Who Coincidentally Looks Like a Cartoon Character

And the character’s name becomes equivalent to the comedian

Just a few days ago, my colleague showed me (and other colleagues) the new trailer of a Toy Story spin-off: Lightyear. We were all surprised by the great techniques to make a cartoon look so real, and that Buzz Lightyear has hair.

What we know about Buzz Lightyear is that he is a spaceman with a long face (probably because of his long chin). He looks bulky all because he wears the suit that is very big and this hinders some of his movements. Most importantly, he has himself but his face wrapped so that we can only see his funny long face.

Having a picture is always better for clarification, I guess.

Buzz Lightyear, as a cartoon character, definitely has some exaggerated features in his body. Even with these body features, have you imagined that someone can look like Buzz Lightyear?

Most local Hongkongers claim that a celebrated MC and actor is a Buzz Lightyear look-alike.

It is Patrick Dunn (鄧梓峰) who looks like Buzz Lightyear. And I think his life is as legendary as the cartoon character himself.

Grew up in Hong Kong, finished his education in the US, briefly lived in Canada, went back to Hong Kong and joined the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers), became a part of the showbiz during his military service, these life stories were some of the reasons Lieutenant Dunn is a legend to a lot of the local people.

Oh right, he was already a lieutenant before the RHKR(V) disbanded in 1995.

Moreover, his amazing talents are what the locals admire. Apart from his talents in emceeing, he is well-known for his ability to fly a plane, his talents in languages (He speaks five languages), his gift to self-learn (He self-learnt some musical instruments and some languages).

I can’t tell exactly how Buzz Lightyear and Patrick Dunn look alike, but as most of us have the same thought, we sometimes have their names interchanged for fun now. Therefore, 巴斯光年 (Buzz Lightyear’s Chinese name, Jyutping: baa1 si1 gwong1 nin4) and 鄧梓峰 (Jyutping: dang6 zi2 fung1) can refer to the same person or the cartoon character.

In some interviews, Dunn expressed his disbelief at the beginning when he was told he looks like the character, but he started to look into it after his sons felt the same. Now he seems to have accepted that they look similar.

Therefore, he showed in a TV commercial that the TV channel was going to air the Toy Story series. He was made to ask in front of the camera whether he really looks like Buzz Lightyear.

In another video, we could see Dunn telling a famous dad joke in front of the camera, but with a twist that he seems to have accepted that he is Buzz Lightyear:

One day, I killed a dinosaur. What am I?

Salonpas. (撒隆巴斯)

What about if I killed two?

I’m Salonpas too!

What was wrong with the Japanese pain-relieving patch? It’s Chinese name has 巴斯, which is the Buzz’s Chinese name. Meanwhile, 撒隆 (Jyutping: saat3 lung4), which has no meaning together, sounds the same as kill (殺) and dragon/dinosaur (龍) respectively.

This made Salonpas sound similar to “Buzz the Dragon Slayer” in Cantonese. Dunn also earned the title of this “Salonpas/Buzz the Dragon Slayer”, but this is not as popular as Buzz Lightyear.

Of course Patrick Dunn has other nicknames, but Buzz Lightyear is a fun nickname as he just look like it.

Lastly, as the new Buzz Lightyear movie is out in less than a year now, Hongkongers would love to have Patrick Dunn to voice Buzz Lightyear when the movie is out in Hong Kong. This would be a dream come true for most of us if this happens because we will have Buzz Lightyear voiced as Buzz Lightyear.

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