Another winner from the prolific Jackie Chan, not as slick or as big budget as his later productions like POLICE STORY but still packing a mean punch in terms of martial arts sequences. This time, the reliable Sammo Hung directs the film as well as co-starring as an idiotic and bumbling private eye who ends up helping hero Chan and his partner Yuen Biao in saving a beautiful heiress - as played by the genuinely charming Lola Forner - from a gang of thugs.
Once again the plot is trivial stuff in which the trio of Chan, Biao, and Hung are up to all kinds of slapstick shenanigans, whether engaging in typically ill-fated battles with hired goons or making trouble between themselves. The emphasis in this low-budget film is on the comedy, and you get it in spades. This time around the inmates of a mental asylum (including the always-good-to-see Richard Ng and John Shem) are the basis for some crazy humour and our three unlikely heroes add a Three Stooges-style manic humour to their scenes. In fact I'd argue that this is the closest the three stars get to paying homage to the old ensemble comedy productions of the '30s.
For a change, this present-set production was made in Spain, which offers up some nice locations which are highlighted in a lengthy car/van chase which offers up some excellent slow-motion stunts and typically unlikely comedy antics involving flying cars. The pacing is fast and furious and never lets up, even during the slow spots in the story where nothing much is happening, and the script is consistently funny.
The various fight and action scenes are a delight to watch and make fine use of props like motorbikes, tables, skateboards, chairs, and the usual. After a few minor battles with the bad guys, things pick up for the excellent finale in the castle in which our heroic trio find themselves up against two powerful thugs and a fencing champion. The resulting battles are frenetic, stylish, and occasionally awesome to behold, benefiting from the presence of real-life champions Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez and Keith Vitali to add to the super-fast realism of the action. In fact the battle between Chan and Urquidez is one of the fastest and best I've seen on film, full stop, not even surpassed by their rematch in DRAGONS FOREVER. Although not one of Chan's top movies, this can best be described as a solid addition to his filmography, with three winning turns from the leads. Instantly disposable, but fun with it!
Once again the plot is trivial stuff in which the trio of Chan, Biao, and Hung are up to all kinds of slapstick shenanigans, whether engaging in typically ill-fated battles with hired goons or making trouble between themselves. The emphasis in this low-budget film is on the comedy, and you get it in spades. This time around the inmates of a mental asylum (including the always-good-to-see Richard Ng and John Shem) are the basis for some crazy humour and our three unlikely heroes add a Three Stooges-style manic humour to their scenes. In fact I'd argue that this is the closest the three stars get to paying homage to the old ensemble comedy productions of the '30s.
For a change, this present-set production was made in Spain, which offers up some nice locations which are highlighted in a lengthy car/van chase which offers up some excellent slow-motion stunts and typically unlikely comedy antics involving flying cars. The pacing is fast and furious and never lets up, even during the slow spots in the story where nothing much is happening, and the script is consistently funny.
The various fight and action scenes are a delight to watch and make fine use of props like motorbikes, tables, skateboards, chairs, and the usual. After a few minor battles with the bad guys, things pick up for the excellent finale in the castle in which our heroic trio find themselves up against two powerful thugs and a fencing champion. The resulting battles are frenetic, stylish, and occasionally awesome to behold, benefiting from the presence of real-life champions Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez and Keith Vitali to add to the super-fast realism of the action. In fact the battle between Chan and Urquidez is one of the fastest and best I've seen on film, full stop, not even surpassed by their rematch in DRAGONS FOREVER. Although not one of Chan's top movies, this can best be described as a solid addition to his filmography, with three winning turns from the leads. Instantly disposable, but fun with it!