Casual Critic Mini Reviews

Kung Fu Hustle (Gong Fu) (China/Hong Kong) (Columbia/Sony Pictures) (2005) ****Year: 2005iMDB

Director: Stephen Chow Cast: Stephen Chow, Wah Yuen, Qiu Yuen, Siu Lung Leung

Hillarious, tongue-in-cheek humor, overdose of special effects, greatly choreographed martial arts sequences (intermixed with special effects too) a sleuth of references and tributes to Kung Fu movies, to classics ranging from Westerns to 50's gangster movies, and moderns like Matrix and Roadrunner - all these are attributes and components of Gong Fu (Kung Fu Hustle).

Director/Actor Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer, A Chinese Odissey) refines his technique even further and creates a parody that still maintains his visceral comedic sense, but adds more dimensions to it particularly through a superb attention to style. The story of kung fu masters trying to live their lives disguised as regular folks but forced into action when a gangster band starts harassing their neighbourhood is not much to talk about but is chock full of comic references to classic Kung Fu films. The martial arts sequences are fun to watch and are "spiced" with "powerful" techniques such as the Lion Roar or Buddha's Palm from Heaven, all hyperbolic versions of similar techniques used in classic movies.

I am not an avid watcher of Kung Fu movies nor a huge fan of slapstick parodies, but Gong Fu has a bit of everything, great visual style and it is ultimately very entertaining and fun to watch. Check it out in theatres while you have the chance.