I love Wuxia films. They capture a grace and style that many films outside old western flicks can't ever hope to obtain. Like the westerns, they are simply imbedded with culture, so that the movie almost becomes a work of art. If you consider that to be true, then allow be to present Kung Fu Hustle. It's not so much a work of art than a comic strip. But this is the most beautiful, funniest comic strip you've ever read. It would be on display on Louve, not in the funny papers. It's everything you would expect, with some extremely creative fights and the funniest gags I've ever witnessed in a movie theatre.
I'm not exactly sure of the year, but this film is set in China pre-WWII. The deadly Axe Gang rules the street, and they do so with a deadly arsenal of, well, axes. And Tommy guns. Pig Sty Alley is a poor quarter, ruled by the horrible Landlady and her whipped husband, Landlord. They live in peace and quiet until two men come posing as Axe gang members waltz in and start a fight. This ends up getting the real Axe gang involved, and what do you know? The little town is the home of several kung fu masters. The masters wipe the floor with them, leaving the leader of the Axes furious and vengeful. The poser is captured by the Axes, and sent off to kill someone before he can actually join. He is the hero of the film, caught between ruthless gangsters and an even scarier Landlady.
The rest of the film consists of several fight scenes that are extremely fun to watch, and often laugh at. My favorite scene involved a pair of assassins strumming a stringed instrument that conjured up swords to be flung at their opponents. The scene is remarkably fluid and dynamic. As I said, it's fun to watch. It's not very often you watch a kung fu master stomp on everyone's toes to make them stop coming. In another scene, a pinball sound accents every villain smashed out of the way by the hero. Some of the comedic moments are pure slapstick, while others are very subtle and will take a trained ear to catch. It also takes a not-so-sly jab at The Matrix in more ways than one.
If you're a stuck-up elitist who only enjoys Wuxia films for their elegance and seriousness, this film may not be for you. But for anyone who simply enjoys watching martial arts, this is one of the best. The enthusiasm of the director and actors is present in every single scene. It's almost like a study of what makes these types of films so much fun to watch. So don't be afraid to laugh when a gay tailor in red underwear begins crushing on his opponents with his fists of fury or when a kung fu master begs to be punched in the face just a little harder. It's a great film, and a great time.