"Hustle" to the video store

I watched a movie that I was sure was going to be stupid on my Monday-off-from-everything. My girlfriend is really into those campy, cheesy flicks that I usually don't want to see, but occasionally she gets on right. Of course, she still thinks The Cable Guy with Jim Carrey was funny. *shudder*

Anyway, the flick in question (FIQ?) yesterday was Kung Fu Hustle or just plain ol' Kung Fu, depending on where you live.

The best thing about the movie was the cheese appeal. It was funny to see the stuff that we've been making fun of for 20 years appear in a 2004 release. But funnier was seeing it slowly disappear through the film. The not quite right dubbed soundtrack left characters moving their lips to already complete English sentences, but it went away later in the film. The effects start out about as complex as a cartoon, with one chase scene literally resembling a Wile E. Coyote short, legs churning up clouds of dust and slamming into billboards.

Later in the movie, the effects were spectacular. The "Buddhist Palm Descending From Heaven" kung fu technique was just awesome, not to spoil it for anyone.

I'd highly recommend viewing this movie if you can keep an open mind through the first 20 minutes of Broadway style gang musicals and theatrical gore.

Two thumbs up.