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 et it be said that Jackie Chan, the undisputed "Clown Prince of
Kung-fu," is a good stuntman. Let it also be said that Jackie Chan, the
actor, is a one-trick pony. Then, let it be said that "Drunken Master
2" (re-titled "Legend of Drunken Master" for re-release in the
U.S.) is a movie about stunts and fight choreography than about anything as
foolish as, say, a story.
It's easy to watch a Hong Kong action flick like this one and shrug off the
storyline. Why? Because, simply put, there isn't much "story" in the
storylines. What passes for plot and plot points in Hong Kong kung-fu movies are
-- well, not much passes for plot and ploott points in Hong Kong kung-fu movies.
I've found that Jackie Chan's movies are almost always dependent on one big
McGuffin from which all of the movie starts from, continues, and ends with a
resolution. In this way, I wouldn't recommend a novice screenwriter to take
anything away from the Hong Kong action movies. There is simply not a lot of
meat to be chewed.
That having been said, "Drunken Master 2" is probably Jackie Chan's
last great Hong Kong-made action movie. It is pure entertainment with incredible
stunts choreographed and shot by Chan himself. (Chan, who is an accomplished
director and a stunt coordinator himself, is an uncredited director in this
movie.) All the classic Jackie Chan moves that he will later re-use in his
American movies are all here.
The movie's plot involves stolen Chinese art and culture. It seems
mustache-twirling Chinamen have struck a devil's bargain with evil western
Imperialist to plunger China's great treasures and, I suppose, take it to the
evil western Imperialist countries to sell or (*gasp!*) put in their
museums. Whatever.
The plot is incidental and provides Chan the opportunity to
kick some serious ass and drink a lot of water that is supposed to be wine. You
see, the title of the movie, and Chan's greatest prowess, is his ability to do
"drunken fighting." But Chan's character can only fully achieve
greatness with the martial arts skill when he drinks so much that a lesser man
would puke. Unfortunately for Chan, his father forbids him from ever drinking
again, but fortunately for Chan, his mother (played by the awfully young Anita
Mui) tends to bend the rules and have made a habit out of tossing her son one
bottle after another in the middle of combat.
If you're looking for a movie that is chock full of nonstop action,
"Drunken Master II" is for you. If you're looking for a deep,
meaningful Chinese martial arts flick, then I suggest "Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
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