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

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.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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