Just watching the fantastic Kung Fu Hustle. If you've never seen it, I highly recommend it. To be honest, it's absolutely bonkers. I grew up watching lots of kung fu movies, and Stephen Chow movies in particular. He's got a crazy style of comedy known as 'mo lei tau', which loosely translates to 'no sense' or 'no head', a style of comedy that comes across as very slapstick and not a little bit Looney Toons in nature.
Why is this move so awesome? Well, it manages to marry several different sensibilities, seamlessly stringing together classic Hong Kong kung fu action with the humour of Chow's earlier work. It throws together endless movie pastiches in irreverent but affectionate fashion.
But most of all, it is a movie with real heart, one that sticks great gags and characters around a classic coming of age story. In many ways, it's a real comic book superhero story with the excellent Stephen Chow at its heart, pulling off the central role of a man wrestling with his own destiny and trying to find his own place in the world. His transformation from loveable loser to hero of the hour contains some real heartfelt moments, ably supported by a cast of capable character actors and comedy relief.
Chow was nearly involved with the remake of Bruce Lee's The Green Hornet, a gig that would have helped him break the Western Market. Even without that, he's had exposure through his earlier Shaolin Soccer, another barmy movie that turns football matches into trench warfare.
I'm particularly fond of the moment where it's suggested that Chow has the potential to become a great lawyer or doctor. More like a stuntman, interjects another character. Hell yeah.
It's a great little movie that hasn't got the most heavy duty of plots, but it's all carried off with such an expertly light hand that it's impossibe to watch without being won over.
He's a hell of a role model, both in terms of movie making and as a character.
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