Synopsis
A movie within a movie, created to spoof the martial arts genre. Writer/director Steve Oedekerk uses contemporary characters and splices them into a 1970s kung-fu film, weaving the new and old together. As the main character, The Chosen One, Oedekerk sets off to avenge the deaths of his parents at the hands of kung-fu legend Master Pain. Along the way he encounters some strange characters.
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Cast
- Steve OedekerkThe Chosen One
- Lung FeiMaster Pain (Betty) (archive footage)
- Leo LeeYoung Master Pain
- Hsieh Ling-lingLing (archive footage) (as Tse Ling Ling)
- Lin YanDying Ling (as Yan Lin)
- Lau Kar-leungWimp Lo (archive footage)
- Chen Hui-LouMaster Tang (archive footage)
- Escobar TongueTonguey (credit only)
- Jennifer TungWhoa
- Ming LoFather
Recommendations
- 75
New York Daily News
Silly, perfect fun. - 50
Variety
Consistently silly and intermittently laugh-out-loud funny spoof. - 40
New Times (L.A.)
On the up side, there are some genuinely funny jokes, and Oedekerk has been wise enough to keep the running time down to 82 minutes, including the eight-minute closing credit sequence (which is worth staying through its entirety). But Kung Pow! is no "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" - 25
Entertainment Weekly
Processed comedy chop suey. - 25
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
If ever there's been a martial-arts movie that makes you feel as if you've been kicked in the head, surely it's Kung Pow! Enter the Fist. - 20
TV Guide Magazine
Obvious and, frankly, 25 years too late. - 12
New York Post
An inept, tedious spoof of '70s kung fu pictures, it contains almost enough chuckles for a three-minute sketch, and no more. - 10
Los Angeles Times
The result is hopelessly inane, humorless and under-inspired.
