Jackie Chan plays a cop in Hong Kong. He has a brother (Sammo Hung Kam-Bo) who has the mind of a 4 year-old and Jackie is frustrated with trying to do his job and keep his brother out of trouble. Mostly it's a losing battle. Later in the film, the brother accidentally gets in trouble with the mob and it's up to Jackie and his friends to come to the rescue.
Jackie Chan and his frequent collaborator Sammo Hung Kam-Bo star in this very bizarre film. Despite these two martial arts stars being in the film, it's really not exactly a martial arts film. It's supposed to be an uplifting family film, action/cop movie and comedy all rolled into one. If it sounds like this is an impossible combination, you are right--and the film really doesn't work very well. The biggest problem, however, is that Sammo is supposed to be mentally retarded and his role alternates from occasionally being sensitive to mostly being a very broad comedy--with Sammo playing the part with as much subtlety as a nudist at a Baptist picnic! Now I noticed that a lot of the reviewers liked it--so be it. But I also know that it will offend folks--especially if they have developmentally delayed family members. In the film, they mostly are to laugh at--and that's very sad. Its a shame, as SOME of the issues between them are compelling--but mostly it's pretty awful. There also isn't any sort of a clear ending--just a weird montage that makes no sense. Obviously a bizarre misfire and not a particularly pleasant film to watch unless you LIKE laughing at Sammo's antics.
By the way, if Sammo isn't potentially insulting enough, look for the scene where he and his young friends are playing 'Jesus and the Assassin'. What were they thinking?!
Jackie Chan and his frequent collaborator Sammo Hung Kam-Bo star in this very bizarre film. Despite these two martial arts stars being in the film, it's really not exactly a martial arts film. It's supposed to be an uplifting family film, action/cop movie and comedy all rolled into one. If it sounds like this is an impossible combination, you are right--and the film really doesn't work very well. The biggest problem, however, is that Sammo is supposed to be mentally retarded and his role alternates from occasionally being sensitive to mostly being a very broad comedy--with Sammo playing the part with as much subtlety as a nudist at a Baptist picnic! Now I noticed that a lot of the reviewers liked it--so be it. But I also know that it will offend folks--especially if they have developmentally delayed family members. In the film, they mostly are to laugh at--and that's very sad. Its a shame, as SOME of the issues between them are compelling--but mostly it's pretty awful. There also isn't any sort of a clear ending--just a weird montage that makes no sense. Obviously a bizarre misfire and not a particularly pleasant film to watch unless you LIKE laughing at Sammo's antics.
By the way, if Sammo isn't potentially insulting enough, look for the scene where he and his young friends are playing 'Jesus and the Assassin'. What were they thinking?!