June 22, 2009
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I wish I was fat so I could jump high.
Never mind that gifted martial artist/filmmaker Sammo Hung Kam-Bo's over-the-top 1989 kung fu comedy Pedicab Driver has more shifts in temperament than your schizophrenic uncle's last bachelor party, or that it's sense of humor could readily be described as "lowbrow," or "sophomoric." None of that really matters at all. The reason: Sandwiched in-between these unnecessarily thick slabs of hokey melodrama and those poorly-executed romantic subplots are several seat-soiling fight sequences that rank, in this goofball's humble opinion, among Hung's absolute best. Structurally speaking, however, the picture is a mess, veering wildly between comedy, drama, action, and all stops along the way, making for a somewhat jumbled cinematic experience. But, like I said, none of that really matters. From the opening scene's pointless yet strangely humorous "florescent light saber" duel to a skillfully staged showdown inside a evil pimp's hideout, Pedicab Driver delivers the sort of frantic, no-holds-barred action Hung is renowned for. The legendary confrontation inside the gambling house is probably my favorite, as it showcases just how spry, surefooted, and insanely talented Kam-Bo truly is. Insert an outstanding cast of genre legends -- Lau Kar Leung, Corey Yuen, and Lam Ching Ying are just a few -- and you've got one of the best needlessly obscure martial arts movies ever produced. The fact that it isn't widely available on Region 1 DVD continues to baffle me.
Recipe For Success: An Amazing Cast Of Talented Players + Several Great Fights + Florescent Light Sabers
Rules To Live By: While enjoying a nice dinner, never tell your best friend that his new fiancee is a whore.
Especially if you paid for her the night before.
Posted by
The Film Fiend
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