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Cast:
Miriam
Yeung
Ekin
Cheng
Denise
Ho
Wong
You Nam
Mandy
Chiang
Maggie
Lau
Hui
Shiu Hung
Liu
Chia Yung
Charles
Ingram
Turbo
Law
Lo
Meng
Shoji
Kurata
Action:
Stephen
Tung Wai
Director:
Raymond
Yip
Score:
 
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ANNA
IN KUNG FU LAND
AKA:
Anna In Kungfu-Land ||
Anna In Kung-Fu Land
Year:
2003 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Alongside
'Sound
Of Colors', 'Anna In Kung Fu Land' was Miriam Yeung's
two-pronged attack on the 2003 Christmas box-office in Hong
Kong. While 'Sound Of Colors' was more a romantic drama
though, this film was akin to the zany comedies (with romantic
overtones) that have made her the star she is today.
Nonetheless, the question remains as to which of her two
Christmas hits was the more enjoyable - the answer will of
course follow.
In
his bid to promote high energy drink 'Power Source',
advertising executive Kin (Cheng) devises an crafty gimmick
that expects to reach an all new audience. His plan is to
organise a martial arts tournament that will not only
highlight the skills of the world's finest fighters, but will
also serve as an excellent endorsement for the product. After
using his persuasive spiel with a Shaolin fighter, Kin travels
to Japan to invite a dishonoured fighter (a fine cameo by
Kurata) who has a score to settle with Shaolin. However, the
master - a former pupil of Shaolin - decides to send his
daughter Anna (Yeung) instead, a decision that is confirmed
when, due to Kin's flirtatious behaviour, she falls in love
with him. When the sly advertiser travels back home, he finds
himself followed by the adoring Anna and is forced to utilise
every trick in the book to keep her and his fiancée apart.
Meanwhile, the competition gets underway and a favourite
emerges from the crowd: an American kickboxer who is
determined to prove that Chinese kung fu is antiquated.
Opening
with a glorious animation, 'Anna In Kung Fu Land' starts with
the kind of energy and verve that makes the viewer sit up and
take notice. Sadly, the chances of this being anywhere near
Yeung's best quickly dissipates as Raymond Yip's typically
unreliable direction takes over. From such an exciting
beginning, the film descends into indecision, unsure as to
whether it wants to concentrate on its pseudo-'Shaolin
Soccer' style or the romantic/comic antics that ones
expects from Yeung. Raymond Yip, though, handles neither of
the two themes particularly well and so a potentially
enjoyable hybrid comedy is turned into a moderately
entertaining one. Yip's failing here was also apparent in 'For
Bad Boys Only' and the tepid 'Sixty
Million Dollar Man' - a lack of cohesion and, more
significantly, direction. He once again reverts to crude
humour when matters become lacklustre, despite some moments of
promise from behind the camera.
There
are moments within 'Anna In Kung Fu Land' that do shine,
despite the obvious failings of the production as a whole.
Miriam Yeung is charming enough to turn weaker material into a
winning performance, while the remainder of the cast is filled
with excellent supporting acts by some of Hong Kong's unsung
heroes. Of significant interest is the presence of kung fu
legends Lo Meng, Liu Chia Yung and Shoji Kurata; their
professionalism, along with Lo Meng's consistently surprising
comic timing, add a much needed touch of class to Raymond
Yip's uneven blend. Admittedly, despite my criticisms, there
are successful moments of mirth in 'Anna In Kung Fu Land' -
this is clearly helped by a cast who really look like they're
relishing the experience. Therefore the film is not a unmitigated
waste of time - it just doesn't amount to more
than the sum of its parts.
'Anna
In Kung Fu Land' will no doubt disappoint viewers enticed by
the intriguing title; there are a few brief moments of action,
but they hardly amount to anything significant. However, it's
doubtful whether even non-action audiences will be fully
satisfied by this entertaining, but insubstantial production.
Miriam Yeung fans (of which I count myself a minor one) will
naturally enjoy 'Anna In Kung Fu Land' more than most, though
it's certainly not a stand-out feature.
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