ENTER
THE FAT DRAGON (Blu-ray Review)
Starring
Donnie Yen, Teresa Mo, Wong Jing, Niki Chow, Joey Tee. Directed by
Kenji Tanigaki & Wong Jing. (2020/97 min)
FROM
WELL GO USA
Review
by Tiger the TerribleđŒ
The
sole running gag is Donnie Yen in a fat suit.
He
plays Hong Kong cop Fallon Zen, who's demoted to the evidence room
and dumped by bitchy fiancée Chloe (Niki Chow) on the same day. The
subsequent montage has him working a desk while continuously snacking
until he's considerably overweight. Then his supervisor offers
redemption by ordering him to escort a witness – who has evidence
of a drug smuggling operation - to the authorities in Japan. When the
witness is killed by Yakuza boss Shimakura (Joey Tee), Fallon teams
up with slovenly ex-cop Thor (Wong Jing, who co-directed) to find the
evidence, a job made more difficult by corrupt Japanese cops. Worse
yet, Fallon's ex is Shimakura's new girlfriend.
Like
Sammo Hung's original 1978 film, Enter the Fat Dragon is
mostly played for laughs, though the story is quite different. Much
of the humor is broad and silly, which is sometimes funny, but
just-as-often falls flat. And considering the title, Fallon's weight
gain is actually inconsequential. Not that anyone wants a
preponderance of fat jokes (especially in this day & age), but at
no time does his weight impact the story, action or outcome. Yen
kicks, punches, jumps and runs just as deftly here as any straight
action film he's ever made...and doesn't even appear sweaty or winded
afterwards. Hell, some of us with similar physiques get that way
hauling groceries in from the car.
 |
| A finger needs pulling. |
Two
things save the film. First, the fight sequences are really
impressive, especially a street brawl pitting Fallon against a dozen
thugs and the climactic knives-&-nunchucks battle atop a city
tower. Second, of course, is Donnie Yen himself. In addition to
still-impressive physical abilities, he has a knack for making his
characters personable and endearing. Though nearly unrecognizable by
make-up, he's once again a charming protagonist. Wish I could say the
same about the Chloe character, one of the most obnoxious love
interests I've seen in a long time.
Ultimately,
Enter the Fat Dragon coasts on the novelty of its funny title
and an action star willing to sit in the make-up chair a few more
hours each day. Remove both and you still have the same plot, same
characters and same jokes, funny or otherwise. The action and its
star make the film watchable, though Donnie Yen is flirting with becoming Hong Kong's own Nic Cage.
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW.
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