Shaolin Soccer review

Shaolin Soccer marks a rare comeback for dubbed cinema, as opposed to the now common subtitles, but since plot and dialogue are very much secondary to the concept of the film, it's a strategy that pays off. One of Hong Kong's biggest commercial successes upon its release, the film is directed by and stars Stephen Chow, a twenty year veteran of the Hong Kong scene, who has been described as an Asian Jim Carrey and is in reality an even wackier Jackie Chan. This hugely silly film combines martial arts, soccer and special effects to create the first kung fu football movie, where the underdogs overcome their obstacles through the use of unorthodox and lethal moves: the kind that Eric Cantona would be proud of.

Ng Mang stars as Fung, a former star player, now reduced to living on the streets. In his glory days Fung was the star striker for his team, but after a bribery scandal he was unjustly kicked out. His former colleague Hung (Xie Xian) has replaced him as the team's coach, subtly naming his new eleven Team Evil.

Whilst hanging about on a street corner one day, Fung spots a young man being attacked by a group of hooligans, and watches as the energetic Sing (Chow) takes all of them on successfully using his Shaolin manoeuvres. A light goes off in Fung's head, and he hits upon the idea of a football team comprised solely of fellow monks. After a hesitant start his team is on its way to the national championships, using their deadly moves, among them the iron shirt, empty hand and hooking foot. The young Sing, meanwhile, has a growing relationship with a local girl who cooks the monks' food.

If you're looking for some intellectual Oriental cinema, then Shaolin Soccer is definitely not it. This is a film for which it's definitely best to leave your brain at the door and sit back and enjoy the pure stupidity of it all. While the action sequences are sometimes impressive, the film does rely on too many obvious special effects - it would have been a far more successful venture if the football was a little bit more realistic. There is no subtlety or light and shade here: instead everything is black and white, and when Fung's team inevitably make it to the final against Team Evil and go into the second half one goal down, the conclusion is glaringly evident. It's a film that may well achieve a minor cult status, with its dubbed soundtrack adding to the ludicrousness of it all, but it's likely that many will find it equally forgettable.