So why not a comedy review, eh? Those movies are always the type that a lot are hesitant to hand out high ratings to unless they're satire or Monty Python or something... I guess sort of mature comedy is what they look for. Maybe I'm not all that different, maybe I am... it depends on how you take Kung Fu Hustle, really.
What I mean by this, is there are a lot of layers to this movie. You could simultaneously call it a slapstick, a martial arts film, a romance (in a silly sort of way)... It pretty much excels at all of these. Of course, it's primary a comedy, and it functions that way, but the fact that it managed to add so many... so many baaawww and beautiful things is enough to make it more than just a comedy.
On one hand, you've got this MAD CRAZY comedy going on. I mean, there's a Road Runner-style sequence for crying out loud! Knives are bouncing off walls, a nerd in gold frames is bumpin' heads, cats are getting cut up, gangs are dancing, 'n all this crazy stuff is going on. Odds are if it's an inanimate object, it won't survive the movie.
HINT: This soccer ball lasts ~2 seconds after this image.
You know what I have to say 'bout all that shizz? Hilarious! Of course, if slapstick isn't your style, then some subtler humor pops up from time to time. There are all kinds of homages, send-offs, and quotes that are bound to make you chuckle. When the idiot friend starts randomly talking in deep metaphors, for example. Where in the world did that come from? Don't know... but it was funny as could be.
Of course, a movie with Kung Fu right there in the title isn't going to just be a simple comedy movie. It has to have some martial arts... doesn't it? Well, it does. As for the fights themselves, well they range from badass to beautiful, with the top mark going to the incredibly well-made battle between the Kung Fu masters and The Harpists. The concept itself is intriguing: a way of attacking those with greater skill by channeling spirits/swords via music. Then the execution lifts the scene from intriguing to perhaps the memorable scene of the movie. There's a moment where the sound drowns out and all you can here is the Harpist's music as Donut (actual character name!) fends invinsible daggers for his life. It's... well, beautiful, really.
On top of that, there's a subplot involving Sing (main charater) robbing an ice cream vendor... twice. It's hard to explain without crapping out a spoiler, but odds are you'd be able to catch on anyhow. Just know it's one of my favorite aspects of the movie.
Also, there is a small amount of symbolism occuring in the film. The toads outside of The Beast's cell, for example. Take a look at them, and then as the film reaches its climax, find out just why they were there. Or the all-day sucker... the only part of a flash back represented in full full color. Sometimes the symbols double as a comedic prop themselves... like the Axe Gang approaching Pig Sty Ally followed by the clouds, or the vortex above the asylum. Awesome.
I guess what I'm trying to say from all of the above is this: Kung Fu Hustle is a great, great movie. Frankly, I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't like this. Even if you don't like the slapstick brand of humor, there are so many other things for someone to appreciate. I know I mention this every review, but with this movie, I can't stress it enough: this art meets entertainment. For that, I love this movie.
Overall - 10. Not just a great comedy, but probably the best pure comedy from the 2000s, and one of my all-time favorites. Watch it.
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