"Kung Fu Hustle" is the latest import from director/star Stephen Chow, whose last film, "Shaolin Soccer," put a cartoonish spin on the standard root-for-the-underdog sports genre. "Hustle" gathers a lot of the same cast & crew, and is similar in spirit, but is a much more accomplished effort. A weird blend of martial arts action, special effects, slapstick comedy & love story, it's also the funniest movie I've seen in years. Why don't American filmmakers do stuff like this anymore?

Chow stars as Sing, a local loser in 1940's Hong Kong who has aspirations of becoming a member of the city's notorious Axe Gang (named for their weapons of choice). He wants to be a bad guy, since we learn through brief flashbacks that being good hasn't worked out too well. The problem is he's isn't all that great at being bad, either. With his portly sidekick, Bone (Lam Tze Chung), in tow, Sing inadvertently starts a war between the Axe Gang and the tenants of Pig Sty Alley, a local slum run by a hilariously bickering couple simply known as Landlord & Landlady. The Axe gang gets more than they bargained for, though...it turns out that several shopkeepers (including Landlord & Landlady) are also kung fu masters, and pretty much kick the crap out of them. This prompts the Axe Gang into hiring assassins to exact revenge. Sing is told, in order to join the Axe Gang, he has to kill somebody. He goes back to Pig Sty Alley, and in the movie's funniest sequence (involving knives & a couple of angry Cobras), fails miserably. Yet, despite accidently stabbing himself several times and being bitten in the face by snakes, he remarkably recovers, though he can't explain why. Meanwhile, the Axe Gang's hired assassins fail at their task, but not without killing a few of the kung fu masters. Undaunted, the Gang offers Sing membership if he can break into an asylum to release The Beast (Leung Siu Lung), who is such a tremendous kung fu artist that he had himself committed until a worthy opponent comes along. This leads to a showdown between The Beast and Landlord & Landlady (the latter of whom goes from being perpetually obnoxious to a true heroine during the course of the movie), then eventually Sing, whom has a change of heart...and also discovers his true gifts as a fighter and a human being. Looking back at the paragraphs I just wrote, I don't make "Kung Fu Hustle" sound very funny, maybe because the plot itself is standard fare, but more likely because this movie has to be seen to be believed. It plays like a cross between "House of Flying Daggers," old Warner Brothers cartoons & MAD Magazine, with a little bit of "The Matrix" & "The Magnificent Seven" thrown in. The fight scenes are elaborately staged ballets of kung fu violence, with special effects that may disqualify the movie from being classified as a martial arts film. At the same time, there's a cartoon-like irreverence throughout, always popping up just when you think the film's gonna suddenly turn serious. In addition, the movie not only features some of the funniest slapstick since "Blazing Saddles," the dialogue is hilarious...funny enough that you quickly forget you're reading subtitles (do yourself a favor...DON'T watch the dubbed version). As thrilling as the action scenes are, there are a ton of laughs along the way, making "Kung Fu Hustle" feel much shorter than its 100 minute running time; with wonderfully goofy & endearing characters (including the bad guys) it's one of those films you feel like you could watch forever.

The picture and sound quality of this disc are almost on par with Sony's "House of Flying Daggers" (which is still the best looking film I've seen this year). Presented in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the picture looks great, with sharp lines, great color & accurate black tones (a great example being the scene involving harpsichord-playing assassins). The sound quality is equally fine, offered in Chinese 5.1 Dolby Digital (again, you don't want to watch the dubbed version).

All-in-all, an outstanding set of extras for fans of the movie. Included is a full length commentary by Chow, Chung & fellow actors Tin Kai Man & Chan Kwok Kwun (the Axe Gang leaders); it's a great listen, with everyone chiming in with lots of info & anecdotes. There's also a lengthy behind-the-scenes documentary, focusing on the actors, the special effects and, of course, the fight scenes; I could have lived without having the thing 'hosted', however...the needless shtick kind of gets in the way at times. Also included is an amusing blooper reel, some deleted scenes, poster art, and an in-English interview with Chow himself, who comes across as a charming and humble young man. Bastard.

Without a doubt, "Kung Fu Hustle" is a movie worth owning, lending itself well to repeated viewings. It doesn't matter if you think you hate foreign language films or chop-socky epics. It's been a long time since I've seen a movie with such a single-minded desire to entertain. Packed with extras and sporting great picture & sound, it's a must for any DVD collection. Though it contains violence & language, "Kung Fu Hustle" would make a great family viewing experience for parents with well-adjusted kids. Similar Movies: "Shaolin Soccer"; "Rumble in the Bronx"; "Army of Darkness"; "Blazing Saddles"; classic "Looney Tunes" shorts