Shaolin Soccer (2001)
Director: Stephen Chow
Starring: Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Patrick Tse, Ng Man-tat
Primary genre: Sports
Secondary genre: Comedy
Known in Hong Kong audiences for “Mo lei tau” (“nonsense” in rough translation) comedy movies filled with verbal puns, visual gags and Looney Tunes inspired violence, writer-director-producer Stephen Chow seemed adamant to embrace the possibilities that computer generated effects offered in the advent of the new millennium. This meant flamboyant martial arts inspired tactics resulting in the conception of “Shaolin Soccer”, the highest-grossing film in Hong Kong history until Chow’s gargantuan “Kung Fu Hustle” (2004) three years later.
The plot is minimal at best involving the efforts of a Shaolin soccer team to become champions by using extensive kung fu. Since it is not the destination that counts but the trip, we are subjected to an army of quirky characters, dubious villains, extravagant imagery, a romantic subplot and the obligatory and hilarious training montage. Elevated by a sense of optimism which was sorely lacking in the early 2000s comedies that saw a rise of vitriolic, crude and vulgar humor, Chow sticks to his known for more than a decade comedic chops. If it ain’t broken, then why fix it?
“I want to say hello to my parents and my Kung Fu master, but they’re all dead”
In his case, he updates his style while employing cute (yet simplified) storytelling to establish clear arcs. To be fair though, when a film is called “Shaolin Soccer” you probably are not on board to study and interpret Danish dogma. Showcasing the most popular sport on the planet (i.e., football) under a different lens, he takes cues from “The Matrix” (1999) and has the players flying sky high, take impossible dives, score devastating for the environment and other team members goals and breakdance to simply pass the ball. It is quite bonkers really unable to take itself seriously optimizing a feel good sentiment throughout the several ludicrous matches filled with charming (but dated) CGI and practical effects aiming to display outrageous football antics.
All of Chow’s famous traits are present and in overwhelming quantities (e.g., Ng Man-tat, lexical puns, anime style poses, exacerbated squashes, slow motion, random music numbers). These in combination with its typical for Hong Kong cinema uneven tone that sees violence used to cartoony effect (the first match in particular is perhaps the film’s highlight with its clever visual metaphors) might drive away those who do not like their comedy to be so visual or hectic but then again, you have to kill the child inside you if you are unable to enjoy such wacky shenanigans.
“Shaolin Soccer” does not overstay its welcome and just like its protagonist who never loses sight of his optimism, is a testament of the cast’s ability to portray such eccentric roles with the enthusiasm of ten year olds including a particularly delightful Patrick Tse as the wealthy antagonist. It is certainly enjoyable and highly entertaining demonstrating Chow’s capacity for high impact comedy and the tragedy of his relative obscurity in the West. See it and enjoy the laughs!
Everybody was kung fu fighting!
+Inspiring comedy
+Unapologetically fun
+Charming but dated CGI
+Lead’s uncompromised hope
-Not all jokes land for Western audiences
-Uneven tone