Today’s quick review: Justice, My Foot!. Sung Sai-Kit (Stephen Chow), a fast-talking lawyer willing to take any case for the right price, retires from his practice when his dubious actions come back to bite him. But when Yeung Sau-Chun (Carrie Ng) is falsely accused of murder her husband, Sung’s wife (Anita Mui) convinces him to take her case. To prove her innocence, Sung will have to outwit the corrupt Magistrate Ho (Man-Tat Ng).
Justice, My Foot! is a madcap Chinese comedy with a touch of martial arts action. Stephen Chow stars as Sung, an unscrupulous lawyer with a knack for talking circles around his foes. Anita Mui plays opposite him as Sung’s wife, who strong-arms her husband out of and back into the legal profession. Two strong leads and a cavalcade of ridiculous situations give the movie a decent comedic foundation, but its writing and tone don’t quite hit the mark.
Justice, My Foot!’s greatest strength is its acting. Stephen Chow and Anita Mui are made for each other, and their back-and-forth is the bedrock of the film’s comedy. Spot-on timing from the lead duo and an eager supporting cast give the movie the talent it needs to bring its humor to life. The movie tends to bounce around, focusing as much on quirky tangents as it does on the main plot. The antics are topped off with a very light dusting of action.
But the particulars of Justice, My Foot! won’t appeal to everyone. The humor ranges from Sung’s clever, circular arguments in the courtroom to crass, lowbrow gags that bring little to the table. The individual scenes are hit-or-miss; in general, the script is decent but outclassed by the actors performing it. The movie’s flippant treatment of death can be jarring at times, and many of its situations don’t translate easily for a Western audience.
Still, Justice, My Foot! has enough to offer to be worth a watch for fans of ridiculous comedy. Its eclectic style and tendency to shoot wide with its comedy mean that it won’t be a reliable pick. But the pairing of Chow and Mui and a few clever scenes give it some upside for the right viewer. For a Stephen Chow comedy with more action and broader appeal, try Kung Fu Hustle or Shaolin Soccer.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for solid comedy acting with a mixed script.