“Kung Fu Hustle” combines slapstick and homage that will humor and surprise you. It’s like a strict Tarantino comedy. Too bad it loses the round in the finale.
A group of unforgiving killers called the Ax Gang has its sights on one part of Shanghai that it does not control or scare: Pig Sty Alley. Who are the powerful defenders of Pig Sty? Why, the mischievous landlord (Wah Yuen) and his overweight wife (Qiu Yuen), who smokes more cigarettes than Humphrey Bogart and has a larger bust than Pamela Anderson.
Meanwhile, a young man full of ambition, Sing (Stephen Chow) wants nothing more than a chance to join the infamous Ax Gang. His motivation is obvious when he accuses a friend of screwing up a crime: “No killing, no arson, no robberies, no rapes…all because of you!”
For the most part, director/actor Stephen Chow parodies other Chinese films, and with good reason, too.
Many of these movies-think “Hero”-try to replace substance with sad music and baffling combat sequences. Chow takes these overused elements and goes wild. For instance, when two assassins try to punch the landlord, their fists ludicrously bounce off him. Or when Sing receives a simple knife to the shoulder, a depressing oriental tune lingers.
Although the fight choreography is impressively silly, courtesy of Yuen Poo Wing (“The Matrix” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), the absurd dialogue and mockery of beloved American films bring even more laughter.
If you consider yourself an avid film watcher, expect to see swipes at “The Shining,” “The Untouchables,” “Spiderman,” “Magnolia” and “The Matrix.”
But you might not be amused as much if you don’t know anything about Asian cinema. Watching battle sequences from some modern and showy kung fu films is a good idea. Otherwise, the visual punch lines may not deliver.
On the other hand, anyone can enjoy the insanely unrealistic on-foot chase between Sing and the landlady; it’s like live-action Road Runner. Plus, slaps and other physical abuses occur in nearly every scene, making one think that Chow is a worshipper of the Three Stooges.
As an actor, Chow is likable and appropriately oblivious to the perpetual hyperbole at play. Most of the cast will garner at least a smile, yet none of them tops Qiu Yuen as the grimacing and high-strung landlady. Qiu has been out of the business for awhile, but she is the backbone of “Hustle”: exaggerated, uncompromising and ready to flog everyone.
And when the final 20 minutes start, everything stops being funny.
Chow decides to take aim at “The Matrix” endlessly, and you can predict what he’s going to do next. Also, the fights are spaced out nicely during the first two-thirds of the film. The last two bouts run together and are too long, bogging down any chance to snicker.
It’s a shame any time a clever movie peters out. In fact, it happens too frequently. Unlike many, “Hustle” still leaves you almost satisfied. It has the best urination scene in a while. That really counts in the end.
The DVD offers plenty. The two deleted scenes are simply trash. They’re just scenes from the movie done worse: nothing new, really. Most of the bloopers are not worth the time, either, but the interview with Chow by kung fu nut Ric Meyers is 27 minutes and succeeds. There’s also a behind the scenes featurette about 42 minutes long and a lighthearted commentary track.
They’re both decent if you don’t mind the subtitles, which can be annoying.
Rounding out the extras are numerous television spots and an international poster gallery.
Despite the lucklaster DVD extras, “Kung Fu Hustle” is worth watching.