Credited cast: | |||
Pak-Cheung Chan | ... | Chi | |
Jing Chen | ... | Lecherous Comrade | |
Szu-Ying Chien | ... | Old Lady with Baby | |
Andy Lau | ... | Charles | |
Chi-Wing Lau | ... | Cop with Megaphone | |
Shun Lau | ... | Yim Chun | |
Siu-Wai Mui | ... | Mandy | |
Fui-On Shing | ... | Motorcycle Cop | |
Tat-Wah Tso | ... | Master Koo | |
Joey Wang | ... | Princess Wendy | |
Wah Yuen | ... | Tin |
An update of the 1960s Chinese martial arts story, Buddha's Palm, friends Charles and Chi (Andy Lau, Pak-Cheung Chan) visit Mainland China and discover an ancient cave that houses what is supposed to be the makeshift tomb of the legendary martial artist Lung Gim-Fei. The friends find an old spell book and practice some magic, which unintentionally breaks open a wall and releases a dormant princess (Joey Wang) and her handmaiden (Siu-Wai Mui). Charles and Chi take the Princess and her Handmaiden back to Hong Kong with them, unaware that they were followed by the just-awaken evil warlord, Tien Chien (Wah Yuen). Written by Oliver Chu
This is a Hong Kong comedy that is a spin-off from the 1960s Chinese martial arts story, Buddha's Palm. Friends Charles and Chi (Andy Lau, Pak-Cheung Chan) visit Mainland China and discover an ancient cave that houses what is supposed to be the tomb of the legendary martial artist Lung Gim-Fei. The friends find an old spell book and practice some magic, which unintentionally breaks open a wall and releases a dormant princess (Joey Wang) and her handmaiden (Siu-Wai Mui). Charles and Chi take the Princess and her Handmaiden back to Hong Kong with them, unaware that they were followed by the just-awaken evil warlord, Tien Chien (Wah Yuen).
Lead actors Lau and Chan does a good job in delivering comedy and charm, as do lead actresses Joey Wang and Siu-Wai Mui. There are plenty of puns, mostly courtesy of Chan and Siu-Wai. While there are some acrobatic superpower scenes, from Lau taking down a bunch of knife-wielding gangsters to Wah Yuen's powerful drop-kick, the comedy consumes much of the picture, leaving lesser room for action and suspense. I would have liked to see the Buddha Palm plot device emphasized more and the Joey Wang and Siu-Wai Mui characters given a larger purpose in the film.
Overall, it is not a bad comedy, but would like to see more of the fantasy elements emphasized.
Grade B-