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Cast:
Leung
Kar Yan
Philip
Ko
Wang
Lung Wei
Chiang
Tao
Action:
Chan
Siu Lung
Producer:
Alex
Gouw
Director:
Lei
Chu
Score:
 
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FEARLESS
DRAGONS
AKA:
Two On The Road ||
Fearless Dragon
Year:
1980 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
From
independent maestros Goldig films comes a kung fu comedy that
combines the talents of Leung Kar Yan, Philip Ko and the
ultimate villain Wang Lung Wei. With such potential in front
of the camera, it would be an impossibility to makes a feature
that isn't, at the very least, entertaining.
During
the transportation of much needed gold to China's famine
regions, a band of robbers devise an ambush to plunder the
goods. Among the carnage are two bewildered yet innocent
conmen who meet by chance and soon find themselves in a far
bigger plot. Although, strangely enough, the expected gold
cargo is missing, the two are accused of masterminding the
robbery and a considerable bounty is put on their heads. When
they finally see that their constant bickering and
double-crossing helps neither of them, the pair resolve to
uncover the real brains behind the operation. During their
haphazard investigation, they still manage to make even more
enemies before they reveal the identity of the unknown
antagonist.
The
very best of the kung fu comedy sub-genre are well-balanced
features that manage to tread the line between the two
concepts flawlessly. Classics such as 'Drunken
Master', 'Knockabout',
'Magnificent
Butcher' and 'Prodigal
Son' all rely on humour built on their characters and
incidents that usually contribute something to the storyline.
The main failing of lesser films is the imbalance between
comedy and action, added to a lack of real context for the
humour. This proves to be the weakness that afflicts 'Fearless
Dragons'. There are, without doubt, a few funny scenes, but
the middle section is mercilessly with repetitive farce. The
extent of this is apparent when the viewer suddenly realises
how far the film has meandered from its storyline, therefore
rendering 'Fearless Dragons' ineffectual in both departments.
All
is not lost though as 'Fearless Dragons' does have a few
notable aces up it's sleeve. The pairing of Leung Kar Yan and
Philip Ko is surprisingly effective with both men playing
their comic roles with a remarkable equilibrium between the
subtle and the outrageous. The acting range of some of kung-fu
cinema's great stars was criminally underrated with many
showing an admirable aptitude for comedy and gravitas.
'Fearless Dragons' major asset is undoubtedly its outstanding
two-on-one battle that constitutes the film's finale. It could
be easy to forgive the awkwardness of the previous hour when
the quality of the closing twenty minutes is so good. Each of
the three performers in the masterful scene have rarely looked
as impressive before or since and the choreography deserves
commendation for this. Kung-Fu comedy has a handful of
triumphs, many that are flawed entertainment and quite a few
that are woeful. 'Fearless Dragons' is another good, but not
great addition to the crowded field.
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