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INCREDIBLE
KUNG FU MASTER
AKA:
They Call Me Phat Dragon
Year:
1979 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Many
viewers' first memories of Tung Wai are seeing him as a callow
youth being instructed by Bruce Lee in the opening scenes of 'Enter
The Dragon'. Then some recognise him now as a highly
respected and much in-demand action choreographer who has
played a part in numerous recent Hong Kong blockbusters.
'Incredible Kung Fu Master' offers a pleasant surprise to
viewers: the sight of Tung Wai in the leading role of a
kung-fu comedy, showing off his very impressive skills.
'Kung
Fu Ching' (Tung Wai) is so-called because of his love of
kung-fu even though he is far from proficient at it and relies
on the few scraps he manages to pick up from his two friends.
After persuading his friends to put in a positive word with
their respective fathers, Ching is given the opportunity of
learning kung-fu properly. However, the two schools he has
joined are bitterly opposed ever since a beaten Mongol fighter
managed to turn them against each other. When they discover
that Ching is a member of the other's school, the young
student is expelled from both schools. Fortunately, Ching
meets a newcomer to town known as Fatty (Sammo - who else?)
who sees kung-fu in a far more cosmopolitan way and compares
it all to his other great love, food. Fatty agrees to teach
Ching his amalgamation of various kung-fu styles and gradually
- after painful training routines - the youngster develops into
a formidable fighter. These new skills are quickly needed when
the Mongol fighter returns swearing vengeance on the two
warring masters who once defeated him and anyone else who gets
in his way.
When
awards for originality are handed out, 'Incredible Kung Fu
Master' will feature near the very bottom of the list; the
oft-told tale of revenge and master/disciple relationships is
once again recycled in this independent feature. Having said
this, the film still stands as a good solid kung fu comedy
with an excellent lead performance from Tung Wai and fine
back-up from the typically impressive Sammo Hung. The comedy
in the film is very broad and even invades the fight scenes
with the finale being a prime example of this. Therefore, it's
soon apparent that nothing in this film is to be taken too
seriously and even the conventions of hero v. villain are to
be ridiculed. 'Incredible Kung Fu Master' is certainly not
among the best kung fu films ever made, but there is enough
enjoyable action to make the viewing experience seem
worthwhile.
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