While commercials may boast of critics calling this "a live-action episode of "Looney Tunes,"" what Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu Hustle" ends up coming off as is more of a live-action episode of "The Simpsons"... except with less pseudo-wholesome values and more fighting... a lot more fighting.

One of the things that should be made abundantly clear to anybody who is planning on seeing this is that this film is essentially plotless.  What can be called a story is literally crammed into the last ten or fifteen minutes of the film.  This is especially poignant considering the main character portrayed by Chow himself dissapears for up to twenty minutes at a time.  Of course, that is not necessarily bad... just don't go expecting some epic storytelling in the sense of "Hero" or "Crouching Tiger."

But here goes anyway: Chow plays Sing.  Sing wants to join the Axe Gang.  But first, he must make his way through obstacles such as a mental patient who claims he is the greatest killer of all time and a land lady who runs like Shaggy from "Scooby-Doo" and seems to always have a cigarette in her mouth regardless of the physics-defying actions taking place.  That's about it.

Luckily for us, where the story fumbles, Chow delivers with great humor as well as amazing action sequences.  But, again, this isn't beautiful wire work via "House of Flying Daggers."  Instead, it is abundantly clear that this is CGI wizadry.  Again, it may take away from the beauty of martial arts, but it makes way for plently of cool moves wrapped around sly humor (my favorite involves a great fight scene between two musicians with wicked magical powers and a dumpling-maker and flamboyantly gay dress-designer... that alone should be enough to let you know whether or not you'll like this film).

Not to mention, for a comedy, this is extremely well directed.  So well in fact, that Chow could probably do great enough directing a serious wire-work film.  Perhaps somewhere down the line anyway.

Though, there are some problems beyond the lack of a story.  This is not a movie for everyone.  Not only is it in subtitles, but there is a sense of whackiness that hasn't been seen since the silent era.  This is like Buster Keaton on a lot of acid.  Also, in a strange twist of irony, I actually have a problem with the rating.  

Usually, I'll complain when a film that should be R-rated is slapped with a kid-friendly PG-13.  In the case of "Kung Fu Hustle," I actually have a problem with the Restricted rating.  This feels like a film that everyone should enjoy, especially those in a the 12-14 crowd.  What makes this even more frustrating is that 1.) the audience I saw this with on a Friday night at 8:00 pm reached about a dozen people total (six of which where in the party of friends I went to see this with) and 2.) all they had to do was cut a naughty word or two and maybe lessen the blood by an ounce, and they could have gotten away with a PG-13.

Oh, well.  I really hope this doesn't flop in the states.

Well directed, well written, and well acted, "Kunf Fu Hustle" is a film that no martial arts fan should miss.  This is especially true to anyone who thought "Kill Bill" was 100% comedy.

*** out of ****

I'd just like to add my opinion after finally seeing this film.

WOW! That's all you can say, the drama elements are boring as are a lot of martial arts films from Asia (Or at least that's what the boxes say) Chinese films translated into English by having us read subtitles is a full time job. Dubbed versions are always badly acted by Americanized Asians who never capture the feel.

Though the guy who did Jet Li in Hero was spot on in my opinion.

The fight scenes in this film are a cross between Matrix and Kill Bill and I'm blown away by what they did and how well they pulled it off. A few CGI shots were poorly done as in the case of when the Landlady throws her husband out of the window and he falls the the ground.

At the end of the day I mostly agree with AmericanSyCo and I guess someone else does enjoy these types of films.

I hope the sequel is as good or better.

I'm in the midst of watching the special features and am worried that the commentary is not in English which makes no sense at all but hopefully it's in English somehow.
(Ric Meyers shows up here as well to do an interview and not the commentary as I'd wish he would)

Quoted from AmericanSyCo Not to mention, for a comedy, this is extremely well directed.  So well in fact, that Chow could probably do great enough directing a serious wire-work film.  Perhaps somewhere down the line anyway.

I agree. The directing was awesome, some of the camera work was just so unique i was in awe.

A few examples.....

One of the three heros is walking away as the musician plays his music, and in the shadows plants, pots and cats get the chop. The bit that stood out to me happened when the hero himself got decapitated and you saw it in the shadows. The body fell and the hand of the hero was inches away from the camera, and you saw his head land on the floor in the distance.

Chow's tribute to The Shining.

.. And a few other that i've forgotten.

Stephen Chow is a mastermind behind the camera and not to bad of a comedy actor. This movie IMO is better than Kill Bill, theres no insane gore and the decapitation in Kung Fu Hustle is believable. But i did prefer Tarintinos feet cutting to Chow's feet crushing.

Althought the director work in both films is done very well i choose Chow for being more theatrical.

4.5/5.

PS looking forward to the sequel and his next film Long River 7.

Watch some of his older films. He is a great comedic actor.

Legend of The Dragon, King of Beggers, Love on Delivery and more. He shows his potential in those early films.