Dragons Forever (1988)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Dragons Forever (1988) – S. Hung & C. Yuen

As Jackie Chan moved from Seventies Shlock to Worldwide Fame, he maintained close ties with other students from the China Drama School (aka Peking Opera) that he attended in his youth, principally Sammo Hung and Biao Yuen.  Known as the Three Brothers or Dragons, they starred in a series of action comedies (Project A, 1983; Wheels on Meals, 1984; My Lucky Stars, 1985; Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars, 1985), mostly directed by Sammo (Fatty Dragon).  Dragons Forever was their final outing together, as Jackie’s Police Story and Armour of God franchises took off.  Jackie stars as a lawyer working for a criminal gang that own a chemical company (also serving as a front for narcotics production). When the owner of a neighbouring fish farm (Deanie Ip) sues the chemical company for polluting, Jackie takes the case. Jackie recruits Biao to help plant a bug in Deanie’s house to gather information, since her lawyer (and cousin), Pauline Yeung, also lives there. Sammo is a scammer who hopes to swindle Ip out of her fish farm but ends up falling in love with her.  Jackie also falls for Yeung, creating a conflict of interest for the case (resolved at the trial in a scene that is unfortunately marred by homophobic comments by the judge). If this all sounds rather cheesy, it is (in true Jackie fashion) -- but there is enough hand-to-hand combat from the three stars, old school style with chairs and furniture used for props, to keep those who came for the action engaged. (Benny Urquidez takes on the role of super-baddie in the final fight). The comedy is, as usual, hit or miss, but the Three Dragons are undeniably charismatic (even if cast somewhat against type here).