Kung Fu Hustle

Stephen Chow
2004

Leaving the theater, I took secret pleasure in hearing my friends talk about how great 'Ong Bak' was. Given, we'd not gone to see 'Ong Bak' but instead took in Stephen Chow's unfocused foray in live-action cartooning, 'Kung Fu Hustle,' in which all the glory and reverence for the martial arts film is sucked out by an over reliance on callow CGI.

Chow's Sing is a would be hood with a corny backstory and a tubby pal, trying to earn his bad deeds merit badge so he can join local baddies "The Axe Gang." His blundering attempts lead to all out war between the gang and a local ghetto owned by a comic slumlord couple. The concept of tenement dwellers being kung fu experts and defending their meagre homes against a flashy crime syndicate is by far the film's most winning asset, unfortunately Chow abandons it in an effort to further flesh out his own character. In an unsurprising series of events Sing learns that the slumlords are kung fu masters, becomes a kung fu master himself, and has a showdown with the best martial artist in the world.

'Hustle' disappoints frequently but it is primarily because the film could have been better if more care had been lavished on the fight sequences. Its a shame to see Yuen Wo -Ping's choreography slide into computer generated laziness after the triumphant fight sequences of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." This said, the film's comedic touches are wonderfully charming. Chow's sense of slapstick and ability to create synthetic worlds are not to be sneezed at, his talents are more 'Amelie' than Bruce Lee, and he's a dead ringer to be a favorite of the video-gaming set.

Chow isn't off the hook however in his clumsy neglect of character and plot. Sing's transformation into super good guy (as well as the slumlords') seems to happen for no convincing reason. The film's ending is perhaps the most ridiculously cheesy sequence possible (though that's probably a good thing), where nice guy Sing gets the girl from his past whom he'd recently robbed.

There's certainly nothing wrong with combining comedy and martial arts, but a healthy respect for the discipline is required. I question Stephen Chow's principles and treatment of kung fu, and hope 'Kung Fu Hustle' is not a sign of worse things to come.

Review by Brett A. Scieszka