Upon initially discovering Hong Kong Action cinema, I turned
my nose up at the Kung-Fu comedy stylings of Jackie Chan and company. I gravitated to much more serious fare like “Heroic
Bloodshed.” I made a rare exception for the
offerings of Lau Kar Leung, but that’s where I drew the line. Since then, I have gradually been shedding such
prejudices. It would appear to be too late, as the golden age of Hong Kong
cinema has long since passed. Fortunately
for me, traces of its DNA can be still found in action cinema from around the
world.
Unlucky Stars, an upcoming American made martial arts comedy
from Prototype Monks, focuses on two action stars from different
continents. One is an established name
from Peru, while the other is an up and comer from Jordan. Both eventually find themselves being chased by
a relentless bookie. In order to make
things right, a pair of private investigators may have to go above and beyond
the call of duty.
The film is still in production. Judging by the trailer, it seems to be
squarely on the right track. The brief moments
glimpsed appear to combine the self-aware nature of American spoofs like 21 Jump Street (sans the vulgarity) with
the precise action choreography one would expect during Hong Kong action cinema’s
heyday. The kicks snap with speed and
precision, and the sound effects are timed perfectly to the acrobatics
onscreen. By all accounts, Unlucky Stars is shaping up to be a
polished and finely tuned example of its genre.
There is a dearth of quality martial arts flicks here in the
states. Most of the ones that get made
are usually of the deadly serious variety.
As a whole, Americans have yet to truly embrace the joys of martial arts
comedies. Unlucky Stars could be the
first small step in a new renaissance. It’d
be really nice to see Prototype Monks complete this film. Those of you who would like to donate to the
production can do so by clicking on this link.
It will surely be money well spent.
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