Unlike the the back of this DVD, which looks like it was written by a 4 year old, Monkey Kung Fu is a typically late 1970's kung fu comedy that offers plenty of kung fu fighting, training and some chuckles along the way!
Hot on the heels of Jackie Chan's kug fu classics Snake In The Eagles Shadow and Fearless Hyena, this fast moving flick stars Chan Muk Chuen as the comedic star who can't stay out of trouble. He eventually bumps into a kung fu master, played by Sun Jung Chi, during a fight that results in him being took on as a student - albeit a very annoying one.
Fight choreographer and co-star Chi gets the majority of fight scenes in the film, playing a barber who refuses to pay his protection money to Chang Yi and his thugs. One of those thugs is played by a young Eddie Ko who gets to throw a few kicks more than usual. One stand out fight comes right after Sun Jing Chi defeats Ko, as he then faces off against Chang Yi in a great display of monkey versus snake. Its pretty much end battle stuff, but happily fits in half way through which shows how much kung fu this wee flick has going on.
Ironically, in saying that, Shaw Brothers star Yuen Hwa struts his way through the film in an almost comedic fashion, as if playing a farce of his usual top-fighter self and avoiding as much fighting as he can...
After his initial defeat, Chang Yi trains hard in his snake fist in a bid to beat the monkey master. This includes using a strange wooden device that can only be described as a wooden treadmill, to help him run faster. Its around the same time (just before the hour mark), that lead star Chan Muk Chuen gets to let loose a bit more in a tea house fight. I haven't seen much with him as an actor, but in this role, I find him very hard to enjoy. He gets on as if he has special needs mixed with an unhealthy dose of ADHD! As good as his kung fu is, I'm just glad more of the attention is on his master, Sun Jung Chi. Once the monkey training kicks in properly with him though, he delivers some incredible shapes and moves that he quickly puts into use and starts to tone down the childishness.
Even with the bad video-quality print of the Vengeance release, it can't be ignored that Monkey Kung Fu is absolutely packed with kung fu action. I'd say a good hour of the film is training and fighting scenes which never tires! The final fight scene is worth the price of admission alone!
Overall: Packed full of fight scenes, Monkey Kung Fu is a bizarre experience but definitely one to watch.
