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Cast:
Sze
Ma Lung
Cheng
Fu Hung
Man
Lee Pang
Dean
Shek
Choi
Wang
Li
Kun
Action:
Su
Chen Ping
Director:
Su
Chen Ping
Score:
 
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KUNG FU
ON SALE
AKA:
Kung-Fu For Sale
Year:
1979 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Perhaps
I'm a glutton for punishment, watching yet another very
average independent kung fu comedy. However, by reviewing such
a film it may just save someone else's money and help the kung
fu comedy to retain a tiny ember of dignity. As I've often
said, the difference between a 'Drunken
Master' or a 'Magnificent
Butcher' and one of these endless Taiwanese independents
is the restraint of the humour; the aforementioned classics
all added humour that had some relevance to the overall
storyline rather than wedge in a series of tiresome comic
routines to pad out the running time. The latter way of
directing seems a suitable way of starting the review of 'Kung
Fu On Sale'.
Chiang
Wu is desperate to learn kung fu, but cannot afford to pay for
lessons at one of the many schools in town. Nevertheless, Wu
tries to pick up what skills he can by observing others and
spying on the secretive lessons of various clans. Such
behaviour naturally brings him to the attention of the local
ruffians and he has to endure a few beatings at their hands
before he is saved by a superkicking stranger. Wu finds some
allies in his quest when he befriends a quartet of beggars who
help him raise money by demonstrating kung fu in the town.
During a brawl that envelops the friends, the quartet come to
the rescue of a cocky old man who decides to be Wu's adoptive
grandfather after they escape. When the old man discovers Wu's
desire to learn kung fu he persuades the young man to learn a
few moves off him. However, these basic skills are still no
match for the adversaries he faces and Chiang Wu must practice
in earnest if he has any hope of beating a surprising foe.
The
storyline is similar to the superior 'Daggers 8' and the
inspiration of Jackie Chan's Seasonal hit films is always very
obvious. 'Kung Fu On Sale' is padded out with the kind of
cliches that have always worked against the sub-genre's
credibility; the town thugs (why do they always travel around
in threes?), the obligatory fight in a restaurant, the craggy
master and the 'comic' interludes of the eccentric background
characters are regurgitated yet again. The ever annoying Dean
Shek makes his expected appearance to really kill off any
chances this film has of being original and the tiresome
direction that Su Chen Ping provides means that, even at 89
minutes, viewing is a chore. There is some solid action here -
especially from Man Lee Pang ('My
Life's On The Line') - but much of this is undercranked.
'Kung Fu On Sale' is strictly for fans who absolutely must see
every film the genre has to offer. The majority of viewers
would be best advised looking elsewhere for entertainment.
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