Throw The Matrix trilogy, a couple of B-grade kung fu movies, High Noon, and the Three Stooges into a blender, hit puree, and when you’re done you’d have Kung Fu Hustle.
The story of Sing (writer/director Stephen Chow), a young man who is long on talk and short on action, who gets into trouble impersonating a member of the Ax Gang, lead by Brother Sum (Kwok Kuen Chan). Sing’s impersonation exposes several kung fu masters living quietly in Pig Sty alley, including the tenament’s Landlord (Wah Yuen) and Landlady (Qiu Yuen).
To avenge his humilation at the hands of these two “peasants,” Brother Sum has Sing break The Beast (Siu Lung Leung) out of the insane asylum where he has retreated out of disappointment at not being able to find a worthy opponent.
The entire movie is improbable, and uproariously funny simply because it makes use of all the conventions of the various genres from which it draws and takes them to the far end of absurdity (Landlady’s high-speed foot pursuit of Sing as she chases him from Pig Sty alley epitomizes this approach).
For not taking itself too seriously, and for the director’s clever use of the touch-stones of a variety of genres, I’m giving this moving 3.5 popcorns out of 5.
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