Funny Fist - ***

The lighter side of violence

1983, Hong Kong, Colour, 90 minutes

Directed by Leonardos Ho. No writer credited.

Starring Jackie Lee, Ron Goldman, Kwok Van Heller, John Lee Rocker

Painfully funny kung fu farce starring Jackie Lee, the scandalously neglected heir to the thrones of Brute Lee, Jocky Chan, Jackie Pan, and Bruce Eel. Lee stars as Jackie, the only remaining student of a kung fu school that teaches the Funny Fist: a technique of unrivalled power in bringing laughter to one's enemies and peace to children and old women. But his dubious martial background makes him unwanted by the kung fu fighting advnturers he hopes to explore the world with, so he toils away in his home village violently entertaining children. When Dutch marauders hit town while all the other warriors are away questing, it gives him the chance to prove himself. Cue a heady stream of Dutch puns, fart jokes, prat falls, a brilliant “Tulip Fever” marketplace routine, and the greatest unicycle fight scene in history. But ... Sterm, the leader of the Dutch villains, is known as The Man Who Never Laughs. Can Jackie tickle his ribs?

Watch out for – the classic closing freeze frame on a grinning Sterm.

Quote – “I want an encore even though it means getting hit again.”

Reviewed by R.P. Thunderdunk

Brittle Bones vs. Malibu Hercules - *

Smashing!

1987, Hong Kong, Colour, 92 minutes

Directed by Wang T. Dong. Written by Liang Hu

Starring Gang Tang, Marcy Kwan, Leroy Hong

Mind numbingly awful family film about the neighbourly disputes that happen after the Hercules family move from swanky Malibu into a Kowloon apartment building. Brittle Bones is Mr. Wu, their elderly public servant neighbour who, as a running gag, is constantly breaking his hips yet somehow gaming the medical system to get speedy replacements. The film is essentially a series of stupid gags that revolve around stairwells, mah jong, and super strong people breaking the elderly in half.

Watch out for – Mr. Wu refusing to grease the medical system's wheels when Mrs. Hercules gives birth to a three-headed dog.

Quote – “You can't blame Mr. Wu, son. During the Cultural Revolution people didn't get much milk.”

Reviewed by R.P. Thunderdunk