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Kung Fu Graffiti
USA 2010
produced by Joe Clarke (executive), Steven Merit (executive), Tim Nash (executive) for Backrow Studios
directed by Joe Clarke
starring Steven Hullana, Randy Miller, Hai Tran, Tatsuo Ichikawa, John Lee, Joey Chanlin, Erick Tjarks, Becca Anderson, Greg Geffrard, Isai Rivera Blas, Joe Clarke, Ben Pohl, Gabriel Thompson, Matt Sheridan, Nick Messersmith, Robert Zhao, Joe Sciorrotta, Jordanne Letourneau, Joseph Canales, Donald Fabian, Amy Roder, Doug Peterson, Xin Jin, Zach Arenson, Alexander Clark
written by Joe Clarke
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Shanghai, the 1960's: Young Miles (Steven Hullana) is nothing but
trouble to his father (Tatsuo Ichikawa), basically because he forgets his
kung fu training over gambling (and cheating) and the like. So eventually,
dad sends him over to the USA to train with alcoholic ex-marine Ted Wise
(Randy Miller) - and the man and his unorthodox training methods soon cut
him down to size first, then help him to evolve as a fighter but also a
person. Of course, in the USA, Miles also has to attend highschool,
where he's faced with prejudice, so much so that his only true friend
becomes the token black student Freddie Mercury (Greg Geffrard). However,
Miles falls in love with head cheerleader Regina (Becca Anderson), but the
way to her heart leads through an extended fight with football jock and
all-around bully Bart (Erick Tjarks) and the whole football team, a fight
that almost gets Miles expelled. But if Miles thinks he's got problems
now, wait until Wah-King Cliche (Hai Tran) shows up on the scene with his
sidekick Yin Yang (John Lee), who have come from Shanghai to America with
Miles' dad as hostage to find some super secret kung fu scroll they
believe in the possession of Ted Wise. Wah-King Cliche is even able to
defeat Wise, But Miles' kung fu has improved immensely of late - but will
it be enough to defeat Wah-King Cliche? (No points if you can guess the
outcome though.) I have to admit, in writing this film doesn't
sound like much, just another martial arts movie based on a formula
popularized by young Jackie Chan but made into box office gold in the West
by Karate Kid. On screen however, Kung Fu Graffiti is a
whole different ballgame, a very light-footed genre parody that never
degrades to being just moronic but actually shows deep understanding of
the genre and genre mechanics, and even the scenes full of pathos (and
there are a few in this movie) are always broken ironically to make this
one real fun film. Recommended, actually.
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