Stephen Chow is perhaps one of the hardest working actors and directors in Hong Kong cinema. Having heard nothing from him for three years, he has returned with the biggest splash of his career to date in the form of Kung Fu Hustle. A massive success in China, breaking box office records for the new year season, making ten times more than the American films, and twice as much as Andy Lau’s A World Without Thieves, Kung Fu Hustle is as big as they come.
Chow once more directs and stars in this as he has done in so many of his films, again echoing the mix of outlandish and outrageous action, with human drama, and brilliant slap stick comedy. His films have always managed to be successfull, and even in his days as an actor in HK gangster films, he was a popular figure. Chow is a down-on-his-luck beggar, accompanied by his over-weight and wimpish friend. The two are trying to find ways to scam money, but always end up at the wrong end of someone’s foot.
Trying to scam a residential village of money, they impersonate the notorious Axe Gang. A vicious, and brutal organisation which even the Police fear and ignore to do anything about. You won’t see much in the way of criminal justic in this film, the cops are very much the weaklings – even more so than the farmers and residents.
Failing to garner any money, they’re kicked out by the psychotic landlady, as well being pummeled by the residents themselves. By coincidence, the real Axe gang arrives demanding money and making threats. After one of them is beaten with a single punch that seemed to come from nowhere, backup is called in, and the boss with all his cronies arrive on the scene.
there are several intensly hysterical sequences, such as the Road Runner and Coyote like chase which seems more cartoon like than film
The man who knocked the fat dogsbody out steps forward to announce his presence, rather than let the residents be set on fire. Queue a massive fight sequence which brings in two other, older residents with their own Kung Fu skills – the three wipe the floor with the Axe gang and ensure that they also gain their wrath.
Writing about what actually takes place who betrays who and so on would take a while. For a a 90 minute film, Stephen Chow has managed to weave in a multi-layered plot, human melodrama and some incredibly intricate and beautiful fight sequences. The action is directed by Yoo Ping of both Crouching Tiger and Matrix fame.
Indeed, you will note many of the fight scenes echo a similar structure. The difference is, whereas the Silver Bros decided to use CGI and make it look like hell and statuesque, Chow has used the CGI sparignly with powerful effect. Keanue fought of the CGI bad guys, here the only time the bad guys are CGI are upon impact flying through several walls to stop them. The fighting here, although obviously exaggerated and fantasy, makes the fight sequencesin The Matrix and it’s oh-so boring sequels look like kids play.
Action is brutal, fast, anarchic and a sight to behold. At time breathtaking, but always entertaining, and never looking like a computer game. In one sequence, they even introduce the ping sounds from a pinball machine to remind the audience that this is to be enjoyed, not to be taken seriously. It’s a heck of a lot more fun than the dull, CGI fighting of The Faketrix Trilogy.
Chow once more directs and stars in this as he has done in so many of his films, again echoing the mix of outlandish and outrageous action, with human drama, and brilliant slap stick comedy
Taking the non-serious nature further, there are several intensly hysterical sequences, such as the Road Runner and Coyote like chase which seems more cartoon like than film. But it’s such fun and so original to see something like that in a Kung Fu movie of all things, that you welcome it with open arms and demand more.
That’s perhaps one of the best things about this film, and of Stephen Chow’s work, he always moves away from the manly-stud-I’m-depressed-about-everything characters and brings in humour, and over the top action that is just riotous fun.
Kung Fu Hustle is a rocket of a film that explodes to life on screen, offering non-stop entertainment, charismatic characters throughout and some of the best fight scenes you are likely to witness.
Verdict: Funny, energetic and full of visual feasts. A superbly entertaining film.