Moustache man Frankie Chan is the driving force behind this typical Hong Kong action thriller, as he serves as leading man as well as directing the movie. The producer is the prolific Eric Tsang, who seems to be a driving force behind many films coming out of Hong Kong in the past two decades. OUTLAW BROTHERS is very much a typical martial arts production, packed with a lot of different action scenes and many stunts and visually, looking very similar to all the other films that were coming out of Hong Kong around this time. The clothing is dated and the acting may not be amazing, but the film nevertheless provides plenty of spills and thrills for the action fan. My main complaint with this film is the script, which seems unnecessarily complex, and the story, which is all over the place with multiple characters although none of them are really very sympathetic to the viewer.
So, in essence, we're all here for the action, and it doesn't disappoint. Chan – who I hadn't heard of/seen before this film – is a passable hero, and what he lacks in charisma he certainly makes up for in solid martial arts and stunts. The Japanese Yukari Oshima takes the somewhat clichéd role of the tough backside-kicking female cop (the YES, MADAM films had a lot to answer for) but she acquits herself well in the various fights. In addition, there are a ton of imported Western goons to fight, and an appearance from the alluring Michiko Nishiwaki (MY LUCKY STARS) as a female crime boss; as ever, Nishiwaki has a real presence about her, and her fight scene is the best of the film.
Elsewhere, we get a short, fairly average car chase, and some crisply choreographed martial arts bouts that just go to show you don't need Yuen Woo Ping or Corey Yuen around for some decent action; the battles here are hard-hitting, with stuntmen bouncing down steps and falling from railings, and they make the film worth watching. An early battle between Chan and familiar thug Fung Hark-On in a multi-storey car park is a highlight. Of course, as is the case in 99% of these films, the best action is saved for the end, a huge fight in a warehouse with multiple fighters duelling it out. While the warehouse location is clichéd, there are some unusual touches, such as the hundred or so chickens falling from the roof! Being a Hong Kong film, OUTLAW BROTHERS of course has some comic touches to it as well, although these are limited to some buffoonish policemen and some cheesy romance scenes inspired by Jackie Chan movies. While the meandering plot stops it from being a classic, the action serves its purpose and makes this a more than passable kung fu offering.
