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Cast:
Meng
Fei
Wu
Ma
Chan
Sing
Lung
Fei
Sze
Ma Yu Chiao
Action:
Chen
Mu Chuan
Producer:
Shuai
Yo Feng
Cheng
Wu Yung
Director:
Wu
Ma
Score:
 
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KUNG FU
OF 8 DRUNKARDS
AKA:
Kung Fu Of Eight Drunkards
Year:
1980 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
After
an entanglement with a drunken, yet highly skilled beggar, a
young restaurant worker vows to learn kung fu from his
opponent and became as proficient. Persuading the drunken
beggar to train him behind the back of his stern uncle, it is
not long before the devoted student sees the fruits of his
hard work and reaches a good level of expertise. The
capability comes in particularly useful when another
dishevelled beggar is about to be given a serious beating and
the self-righteous youngster feels inclined to come to the
rescue. However, after the ensuing clash leaves the town
bullies in a humbled condition, the shamed gang alert the rest
of their cohorts who destroy the uncle's restaurant. On seeing
the results of his fight, the nephew and his beggar sidekick
decide to earn money for a new restaurant. Trouble is again on
the horizon when the pair are spotted fighting and the unique
style they use is recognised as the technique of a wanted man.
This arouses the interest of the fighter who had killed all
but one of the exponents of the style, but now poses as a
respectable town figure. Therefore he sends his men out to
capture the culprits and find out where they learned the style
from. Added to this is the appearance of a mysterious expert
who has her secrets and a very surprising background. The
answers are provided during the inevitable showdown.
It's
increasingly difficult to explain, in these reviews, the
storylines of many kung fu comedies without sounding
repetitive. Such is the nature of the well-trod path that
every element seems contrived and a tired sense of deja-vu is
present. 'Kung Fu of 8 Drunkards' is interchangeable with
most of the other independent productions of the time, the
same strengths and weaknesses again apparent. Director Wu Ma
(who had proved himself adept behind the camera with such
films as 'Deaf And Mute Heroine') is here in control of a
'kung fu comedy by numbers'; every possible plot strand is
easy to recognise as is the exact moment they will occur.
While
there's little noteworthy here, there are the aforementioned
strengths. Meng Fei stands out as a capable lead, drawing on
the gentle arrogance of his Shaw Brothers days while adding a
certain charm to the role. Wu Ma makes a welcome entrance as
the hero's sidekick and hints at the character skills that
have always made him an asset to any film. Inevitably the
fight action, though providing nothing startling, will surely
pacify avid fans. The action may have been raised another
notch if only 'Kung Fu of 8 Drunkards' hadn't fallen foul of
wasting much of its potential. Chan Sing is hopelessly
underused and is given very little opportunity to prove his
worth. This is also the case with Gold and Silver Tiger, two
useful looking villains that appear with all kinds of
expectation on them only to be defeated with ease by our hero.
Annoyances like this make sure that 'Kung Fu of 8 Drunkards'
provides more frustration than inspiration.
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