It stars Joshua Tan, Maxi Lim, Noah Yap, Wang Weiliang, Ridhwan Azman, Aizuddiin Nasser, Charlie Goh and Tosh Zhang in the first installment.

The film opens with Singapore apparently suffering a massive invasion, with iconic Singaporean landmarks[a] attacked and numerous civilian casualties.

It is later revealed that the war is the fictitious setting of a war-based role-playing game played by Ken Chow (Joshua Tan), a rich and spoiled teenager reluctant to be conscripted into National Service (NS).

Man", (Noah Yap) an Ah Beng scared of his girlfriend Mayoki (Sherraine Law) dumping him for being too busy serving NS.

He realises that his foolish actions have caused problems for many people and cannot bear to face his father, who has survived the car crash and is recuperating in another ward in the same hospital.

[16] The production received the full support from MINDEF to shoot the film; they were provided access to vehicles, equipment and weapons as well as on-site consultants.

The film was funded under the Media Development Authority’s Production Assistance grant,[18] and by investors and sponsors, some of which included Toast Box, Bee Cheng Hiang and KPMG.

You’ll only really understand the whole story if you watch Part Two.With a budget of S$3 million, Ah Boys to Men is Singapore's most expensive film.

[24] Neo initially wanted to include regulars like Shawn Lee and Joshua Ang, but ultimately decided not to, so as to give the audience a completely new feel.

[27] Many prominent businessmen in Singapore, such as Kenny Yap, executive chairman of Qian Hu Corporation, were also invited to make cameo appearances.

[33][34] Neo, Lim Teck,[35] and Leonard Lai[36] served as producers, while Neo's wife Irene Kng, along with Mang, Teck, Tengku Iesta, Tengku Alaudin, Kenny Chua, William Sin, Dominic Inn, Tan Tong Hai, Eric Liang and Sky Li Yunfei, served as executive producers.

[1][37] As part of preparation for the film, the cast members underwent a two-day Basic Military Training familiarisation course,[38] which was, to one of the stars, Tosh Zhang, "as tough as what we really went through during national service.

[47] Neo's insistence to use real weapons and pyrotechnics for the shooting of the CGI-war sequences, despite the high cost, was due to him wanting to provide a "new feel" for the audience.

[1] The official theme song of Ah Boys to Men, titled "Recruits' Anthem", was written, composed and performed by Tosh Zhang, a YouTube personality, Actor and also one of the cast.

Initially rejected by director Jack Neo twice,[51] it was first uploaded on YouTube, accompanied with an official music video, prior to the release of the film.

So I thought this was a win-win situation" The cast and crew of Ah Boys to Men will be promoting and selling Camou Products, a variety of army-themed merchandise, all of which are made from old decommissioned army apparel.

[62][63] A comic book based on the film's first part, titled Ah Boys to Men 1 and published by Marshall Cavendish, has been released; the artwork was done by James Teo.

Derek Elley of Film Business Asia graded it at 6 out of 10 marks, praising it for its "superior production values" but noting that it "lost momentum" during the second half.

[1] Kwok Kar Peng of The New Paper commented on the lengthiness of the film, also expressing his opinion that it seemed like an advertisement for the Singapore Army, but added that it had "its good points".

[65] TODAY's Christopher Toh, gave the film 3 out of 5 stars and criticised the over-use of CGI "that makes Doctor Who blush" though he commended the acting skills of the lead cast.

[66] Vanessa Tai, also from TODAY, felt that some of the jokes in the film were "sexist" and concluded that it might create a bad impression for the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces).

[69] F Movie Mag's review took issue with its excessive length, as well as its sense of incompleteness, though it also praised the director, as well as the energetic performance of the actors.

[70] Hee En Ming of Fridae dubbed Ah Boys to Men as "possibly the worst boot camp comedy ever", reserving only negative feedback for it.

[78] On December 17, 2012, Ah Boys to Men became the highest-grossing Singaporean film, having already taken in S$6.03 million, surpassing Money No Enough (1998), the previous record holder and another work of Neo's.