The more I see of him, the more Alexander Fu Sheng is really growing on me. He's like the proto-Jackie, mugging and fighting his way through these Shaw Brothers films with that same delightful flair for comedy Jackie has. Here, Sheng plays a happy-go-lucky conman who gets involved with a rich kid (Chang Su Chee) out to find some fabled lost gold. Along the way they have to side-step the authorities, a kung-fu kicking Shaolin priest (Gordon Liu, the Shaolin priest), and then a nasty aristocrat and his sword-weilding lady assistant.
It's cute and silly and breezes along to a crazy wild fight finale. Fu Sheng and Chang Su Chee are classic Shaw Brothers buddies, meaning there's lots of slashy potential there to be found if you look for it. And yes, they're both very cute, though their outfits are a little less flamboyant and therefore less yummy than usual for a SB flick.
SUMMARY:
Overall rating: B+ Lots of fun. If you like Jackie, give Fu Sheng a try if you can find this movie!
Droolworthiness: A- The boys are cute. Just wish they were wearing a little less.
Slashiness: B Nothing explicit, but plenty of potential.
Action: A Lots of it, well-choreographed and fun to watch. Especially loved the Shaolin boys doing the 5-man attack at the end.
