Today’s quick review: Kung Fu Hustle. In a town terrorized by the notorious Axe Gang, a poseur named Sing (Stephen Chow) and his best friend set off a conflict between the gang and a peaceful slum. A trio of kung fu warriors reveal themselves from amidst the slum’s occupants and fend off the Axe Gang temporarily, but the slum’s landlady and her husband fear the gang’s retaliation. Sure enough, the Axe Gang comes back with more muscle, triggering an escalating struggle between the slum, the gang, and each side’s allies. As the fighting grows more dangerous and more outlandish, Sing embarks on his own journey to join the Axe Gang, hoping to gain all the respect and benefits afforded to a criminal. But being bad isn’t as easy as it sounds, and Sing soon finds events spiraling out of his control.
Kung Fu Hustle is a martial arts comedy from Shaolin Soccer director and star Stephen Chow. Equal parts CGI-fueled action, ridiculous slapstick, and down-to-earth character humor, Kung Fu Hustle delivers a hilarious and entertaining martial arts experience. The main character is Sing, a perennial loser whose dreams of becoming a respected criminal are thwarted by his own incompetence and soft heart. His greatest talent is his knack for fast talk, but his lies and posturing get him into trouble more often than they get him out of it.
The rest of the cast is filled with strong comedic characters. Sing’s accomplice and best friend is fat, dumb, and sweet, often Sing’s voice of reason by virtue of not overthinking things. The landlady of the slum is a bossy, loudmouthed woman who walks around in slippers, hair curlers, and a nightgown, yells at her tenants for rent, and can run at blinding speeds when she needs to. Her husband lounges around in his pajamas, mooches off his tenants, and is a relentless flirt. The head of the Axe Gang and his second in command are a competent comedic duo in their own right, capable of great villainy yet vulnerable to bullying, surprises, and intimidation.
Kung Fu Hustle’s action is surprisingly strong for a parody. Intense and beautifully directed martial arts fights blossom into creative CGI stunts that grow in scale as the conflict escalates. Iron-fisted tailors clash with axe-wielding henchmen, and staff-wielding porters take on deadly musical assassins. Even outside the fight scenes, cartoonish slapstick gives the film a persistent sense of elasticity and kinetic energy. These gags and stunts are backed by the hidden gem of the movie: its sound mixing. Every punch and slap has a rich and satisfying sound that makes the action engrossing as well as visually interesting.
Kung Fu Hustle is an excellent choice for fans of martial arts, over-the-top action, and visual comedy. The movie is a lovingly crafted peek into a genuinely silly world, where cigarette-smoking landladies hector kung fu masters and hand-to-hand fights are destructive spectacles. However, the tone may not be right for some: the slapstick can border on the grotesque, the action includes a bit of actual violence, and the characters are affable losers. Those who enjoy the tone or take the time to get used to it will be rewarded with stellar fights, great humor, and a thoroughly entertaining experience. Those who prefer their humor normal, their characters successful, or their fights realistic won’t get much out of Kung Fu Hustle. Everyone else should give it a shot.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for its success with both action and comedy.