This is a superlative, period-set kung fu comedy along the lines of DRUNKEN MASTER – except it's actually better! Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao are in their physical prime and as an added bonus Sammo sets a high standard with some fine directing. Essentially, this is a film of two halves, with the first half along the typical lines of a kung fu comedy – lots of gurning, slapstick, and silly double/triple cross situations, plus over the top characters (the emphasis is very much on the effeminate) and some action here and there. Biao and Leung Kar-Yan both prove to be adept in their roles, particularly Kar-Yan as the sympathetic kung fu student.
The second half of the film changes track into revenge-thriller territory, although there's still time for some comic horseplay as Sammo and Yuen grapple over a chicken. Biao takes part in some truly gruelling training sequences which even top those performed by Jackie Chan in DRUNKEN MASTER, and then it's time for the flawless extended ending, which sees Sammo and Yuen tag-teaming the truly evil kung fu master, Lau Kar-Wing, who seems almost immortal. This fight is furious, fast-paced and brutal, often managing to be hilarious in equal measure as Sammo and Yuen master monkey kung-fu and end up hanging from the ceiling as they battle their opponent.
The fight scenes are superbly staged and both Sammo and Yuen put in great performances – Sammo as the twitchy beggar and Yuen as the arrogant, headstrong fighter. The supporting cast is very good, including PROJECT A villain Lee Hoi Sang whose bald head takes a vicious bumping and an unrecognisable turn from Lam Ching Ying. Kar-Wing's villain is one you love to hate and as a whole the film gels together very well, funny during the comedy and exciting during the fighting. Another classic from Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, the best cinematic pairing of all time.
The second half of the film changes track into revenge-thriller territory, although there's still time for some comic horseplay as Sammo and Yuen grapple over a chicken. Biao takes part in some truly gruelling training sequences which even top those performed by Jackie Chan in DRUNKEN MASTER, and then it's time for the flawless extended ending, which sees Sammo and Yuen tag-teaming the truly evil kung fu master, Lau Kar-Wing, who seems almost immortal. This fight is furious, fast-paced and brutal, often managing to be hilarious in equal measure as Sammo and Yuen master monkey kung-fu and end up hanging from the ceiling as they battle their opponent.
The fight scenes are superbly staged and both Sammo and Yuen put in great performances – Sammo as the twitchy beggar and Yuen as the arrogant, headstrong fighter. The supporting cast is very good, including PROJECT A villain Lee Hoi Sang whose bald head takes a vicious bumping and an unrecognisable turn from Lam Ching Ying. Kar-Wing's villain is one you love to hate and as a whole the film gels together very well, funny during the comedy and exciting during the fighting. Another classic from Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, the best cinematic pairing of all time.