Los buscapleitos

I first heard of this when TNT was showing it after the TV premiere of Rumble In The Bronx. I couldn't make it through the first 10 minutes because of the bad dubbing and the mixing around of scenes (The very first scene was Jackie and Yuen skateboarding in Spain, rather than them waking up and getting into their morning routine). A couple of months ago, I got the Hong Kong DVD and loved it.

The movie is about Thomas (Chan) and David (Biao), two Chinese guys who run a successful food truck business in Spain. They get caught up in wannabe detective Moby's (Hung) case to find a Spanish heiress, and the fun goes from there. The chemistry is great between the three brothers, and Lola Forner is a great distraction. The writing is funny, and Sammo's direction is right on target. The fight scenes are great. If you want to watch vintage Jackie, watch this film as he can move quick. The much talked about fight between Chan and Benny "The Jet" Urquidez does not disappoint. Want a lesson in how to do a fight scene? Watch these two guys go at it (They would have a rematch a few years later in Dragons Forever).

For all of you fans of JC credit outtakes, there is none (JC didn't start using them until Police Story). But in a funny, action packed movie like this, you won't care. It is one of The 3 Brothers best, and it will leave you wanting more.

What a fun movie! All the fast-paced action, brilliant stunts and slapstick humor that make Jackie's work great. Jackie and Sammo are terrific and the scenes set in elaborately catered parties give new meaning to the term "food fight". A movie that will have you laughing all the way thru.

This movie does drag a bit at certain points. Personally multiple times I just wanted it to just fast-forward to the next Jackie Chan action sequences. This one really does bring out Jackie's acrobatic skills. At some parts it's like watching the Chinese Three Stooges, and the trademark Jackie Chan humor works. This one is more story focused, not a great story but a watchable one. But sometimes just didn't seem to have enough action. The main highlight fight is the one with Jackie Chan vs. Benny "The Jet" Urquidez. It's one of Jackie's highlight fights in movie history for a reason. Sammo Hung is amusing as this kid detective guy, that is amateurish but persistent. His fight sequence with the fencing expert was a entertaining watch as well. The trio does a good job of bringing in that humor and tenacity on screen. When it comes to the plot it seemed like a live action Chinese version of "The Castle of Cagliostro". Except with kung-fu and stuff. Overall it's cool to see Jackie during his prime. Despite few dragged out parts and parts that are a bit rushed. This is still a fun movie with flashy but entertaining fight choreography.

7.3/10

I like this, more so than any other Chan+Sammo collaboration. Most of it is a bit weird, but the sense of humor, essential to all martial arts movies, is right there with the skills of Sammo and Jackie. Sweet and sour plum!

The basic synopsis of Wheels on Meals is as follows: Jackie Chan and Yuen Baio are two Chinese immigrants who run a mobile snack van business in Barcelona. Sammo Hung, also a chinese immigrant living in Barcelona, works as a very badly dressed PI. Sammo is hired by a dubious looking gentleman in a bowler hat to track down a Spanish girl, who it just so happens is the daughter of Yuen Baios dad's girlfriend. This sets the scene for, amongst other things, a bizarre retro skateboarding sequence, a ludicrous car/van chase and a top class fight at the end.

For me, Wheels on Meals represents the ultimate combination of comedy kung fu and naive slapstick humor. It's worth pointing out that this film isn't as good a Martial Arts flick as some of the earlier works that it's three main stars were involved in (Young Master, Magnificent Butcher, Prodigal Son, etc). However, the main strength of Wheels on Wheels is it's ability to get new mileage out of some very old gags, and it also proves once and for all that unusual hats can be very funny.

I give it nine out of ten.