☆ ☆ ☆ ½
Shaolin Soccer (2001) – S. Chow
Trying to come up
with something to watch with the kids that isn’t animated, cloying, or trying
too hard to be suitable for both kids and adults (wink, wink), I remembered this
ridiculous gem. It was a hit with the boys (more or less)! Stephen Chow plays a down-and-out kung fu ace
(“Mighty Steel Leg”) who is recruited by once famous soccer star Man-Tat Ng to
get a team together for a big competition (against “Team Evil”). We meet the other former monks from his
Shaolin gang (“Iron Head”, “Hooking Leg”, “Iron Shirt”, “Light Weight”), see
them train, and play against other teams before eventually making it to the
finals (of course). Contrary to many
other “losers make good” narratives, these guys become amazing soccer
superstars pretty quickly – aided by some amazing powers and funny CGI effects
(don’t expect the “they do their own stunts!” routine here). It is a slapstick comedy after all. A side plot involving a steamed bun making,
tai chi expert girl who may or may not have a romance with Chow does not quite
hold together. But no worries, we had a
laugh! (And for the record, we watched
with subtitles, not dubbing).
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