With the martial arts of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” a rivalry worthy of “West Side Story” and the comedy of a Warner Brothers cartoon, Columbia TriStar’s latest endeavor, “Kung Fu Hustle,” punches and kicks its way past the competition.
Set in pre-Revolutionary China, the film tells the story of a feud between two unlikely parties. In one corner sits the residents of the run-down apartment community aptly titled Pig Sty Alley. In the other corner stands the Axe Gang, an army of stylish men clad in suits and top hats who carry axes as their weapons of choice.
Usually the Axe Gang would not set foot near the desolate alley because it has nothing to offer; however, wannabe gangster Sing (Stephen Chow, “Shaolin Soccer”) throws a kink in usual protocol when he poses as a member of the elite Axe Gang and demands money from the local barber. The Pig Sty residents appear frail and small in stature when in reality, kung fu masters are scattered among the crowd and Sing soon fears for his physical well-being.
Following a distress signal from the faux gang member, official members march into town brandishing axes every step of the way. Much to the chagrin of the Axe gang, the members’ weapons prove no match for the physics-defying martial arts of the peasants of Pig Sty Alley and this battle waged over a haircut — yes, a haircut — sets the scene for an ongoing series of shenanigans between the two social classes.
Sure, “Kung Fu Hustle” may not have the best plot, but then again, what martial arts movie really finds strong grounding in its storyline? The real thrills are in the action sequences. Under the direction of “Crouching Tiger” choreographer Yuen Wo Ping, “Kung Fu Hustle’s” fight scenes provide the audience with pure entertainment. Men fly through the air spinning and kicking, sometimes taking out seven opponents with one swift roundhouse kick and other times sending them flying to the stratosphere.
The film also makes clever use of weapons and talents in fight scenes. When they’ve had enough of the standard jab or kick, characters reach into their bag of tricks and pull out secret weapons like such as the Lion’s Roar or sonic-boom-inducing scream or unleash their abilities to run like cartoon characters, with only counter-clockwise spinning blurs hovering below their waists.
Perhaps the most creative weapon is that of two blind assassins hired by the Axe Gang to take out the kung fu masters at the Sty. The men play a stringed instrument that is able to project sound waves so sharp they actually send shards of glass or swords flying through the air at their opponents.
The most notable feature of the movie is its unwavering comedy from start to finish. From the opening sequence of the Axe Gang doing The Hustle in formation to minor details such as kung fu villain The Beast wearing metallic blue slippers, “Kung Fu Hustle” is able to keep a light-hearted tone. The characters are delightfully outrageous and unlike any other. Through their behavioral quirks, they are able to maintain the typical roles found in any martial-arts flick but make fun of the genre as well.
The film’s writer and director, Stephen Chow, shines as playful miscreant Sing, a man who has been down on his luck since his childhood but is willing to do just about anything to become a member of the Axe Gang. He picks fights with women, children and men with glasses and even steals from a mute ice-cream vender to earn acceptance, but he winds up with stab wounds or a bashed skull every time.
The landlord (Yuen Wah) and landlady (Yuen Qui) provide sidesplitting laughter with their antics. With her silk nightgown, hair perpetually rolled in curlers and abusive behavior, the landlady truly is any renter’s nightmare. She constantly belittles her residents for not paying their rent, makes fun of their appearances and even resorts to physical attacks. However, no one bears the brunt of her abuse more than her husband, the womanizing landlord, whom she even throws out a window at one point.
Martial-arts enthusiast or not, “Kung Fu Hustle” has something fun to offer any moviegoer. Action, comedy, special effects and even romance are all wrapped up in one film. If you don’t mind subtitles, this is one movie you shouldn’t miss.
Grade: A
