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Kung Fu expert and odd-jobs man Sing (Stephen Chow) tries hard to convince people to learn
Shaolin Kung Fu as a way of life – that helps the fusion of mind and body – not as just an art of defense, but no one is interested. He meets Fung (Mang-Tat Ng), once
known as the "Golden Leg" to soccer fans. But after twenty years, he has been discarded by his team coach Hung (Patrick Tse) who had his leg broken to get rid of him.
Though now a drunken street bum, he sees the possibility of using Kung Fu in the game of soccer. Sing becomes enthusiastic, seeing how Shaolin Kung Fu could become popular through this approach. Each could teach his expertise to whip up a team for the Professional Soccer Championship Competitions. Sing makes the rounds of his brothers and half-brother who were once Kung Fu aficionados, but there are no takers. Would the two be able to form a team and train it in time for the championship games?
It is a simple short story cinematically lengthened by sequences like the dogged efforts to form
a team, talking to each potential player and getting disappointed in the process, and the extended championship fight, especially the last game.
The use of Kung Fu in soccer games gives the movie an interesting angle. Promoted as a comedy, it does have laughable scenes, some corny ones, but the games also turn very violent, where the Kung Fu moves and stunts intend to maim and eliminate players. The special effects make the graphic images appear very real. The visual stunts however are fantastic, unbelievable but impressive, and well directed. The cast is efficiently coordinated in their ensemble acting. Stephen Chow and Vicki Zhao is a good match in their roles.
The spirit that keeps the team of lack-luster and listless men going is the belief and the hope
that they could win. This is what Sing keeps telling them, and whoever likes to listen to him.
He says the same thing to Moi (Vicki Zhao): believe that she is beautiful and ok. Having given her this much boost, she does Sing and the team an important good turn. As there is the good side there is also the show of the negative in
Shaolin Soccer. There is cheating (athletes using drugs to enhance stamina), threats and the use of violence to win the championship by hook or by crook.
The most visual and extended scenes are focused on the championship games. Apart from the fantastic stunts, there determination makes the teams use any means to win. This is when the rules fly out of the games ground and violence becomes the name of the competition. Even the good guys use the same tactics as defense measures. However, Sing is right, Kung Fu becomes popular because people around him use it to do certain things faster and easier.
(Date reviewed: December 5, 2002)
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