Lady kung fu

If you're looking for a kung-fu action movie, look elsewhere. While there are fighting scenes, the film revolves around its provincial protagonist, who struggles to find her way in Americanized Canton. Unlike most "kung-fu comedies," the action scenes are used to reinforce the comedy, instead of the other way around.

Cheung Booi is a statement about the farcical nature of kung-fu movies, where the stars always seem to find some reason to fight. Instead of some grand drama about honor and respect, minor misunderstandings cause the characters to yell at each other and start beating each other up.

My Young Auntie, as it's known in the West, is the story of Cheng Tai-nun, played by Kara Hui, who is a young woman who marries an elderly landowner to keep his holdings from falling into the hands of his greedy and corrupt brother. After he dies, she moves to Canton to live with her nephew, played by director Lau Kar Leung, and his son Ah Tao, played by Hsiao Ho.

The basis of the irony is that although Cheng is the same age as Ah Tao, her manner is more akin to her status as his step-great-aunt. While Ah Tao speaks English (extremely poorly), plays the guitar and goes to costume parties, Cheng utterly fails when she tries to adapt to her lifestyle in Canton, complete with makeup, revealing gowns, high heels and dance scenes.

What makes this movie great is its realization. Lau Kar Leung is perhaps one of the greatest, if not the greatest director of his generation in Hong Kong, and Kara Hui won "Best Actress" at the first Hong Kong Film Awards in 1982. Also, this is arguably Hsiao Ho's finest performance. His chemistry with Hui is remarkable, and although he went on to have a storied career in kung-fu comedies, often working alongside Sammo Hung, he has the perfect combination of athleticism and comedy. As the romantic tension and intrigue build in the second half of the movie, his entire countenance changes. No longer does he easily jaunt through life without a care in the world. He becomes the straight man and his cohorts the Kramer, Elaine and George.

My one complaint is how suddenly the comedic aspects of the film die off during the conclusion. The film transitions from outright farce to dramatic intrigue with little but a change in incidental music. But there is a certain symmetry in it. The film begins focused on the intrigue, focused more on Lau Kar Leung's character, and it ends that way, too. But the final scene returns to the movie's comedic roots, giving conclusion to both aspects of the film.

"My Young Auntie" seems to be considered a minor kung fu classic by some people, and indeed it has a lot to admire: Kara Hui is a marvel to watch in action (with each new film I see her in, I become more and more convinced that she must be one of the 5 greatest female fighters in movie history; she is also underrated in terms of beauty), Hsiao Hou makes a very compatible and playful partner / rival for her, and old-school kung fu fans are sure to get a kick out of the final fight between Liu Chia Liang and his "evil" relative. The problem is that the film barely has enough story for 14 minutes, and yet it goes on for 114! Needless to say, it feels overlong. The last half hour is non-stop fighting: this may sound good in theory, but in this case it becomes repetitive, perhaps even exhausting. Also, it's a little weird that the central character, the Auntie of the title, is almost completely written off the action during the finale. (**1/2)

MY YOUNG AUNTIE (1981) is a clever Hong Kong comedy incorporating kung fu battles, starring and directed by master kung fu director Lau Kar Leung (aka Liu Chia Liang), who takes a break here from more intense kung fu fests like THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN and EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN. The story, set in the early 20th century, involves a dispute over family property after Lau is visited by the very pretty young widow (Kara Hui Ying Hung) of his aged uncle. Because of her status as the wife of the eldest family member, she's considered the senior member and the others defer to her. (She also knows kung fu.) When another, greedier relative, played by perennial villain Wang Lung Wei, disputes the will, this leads to a major kung fu battle between Lau and Wang. Appearing in a comic supporting role as a guitar-strumming college boy is Gordon Liu.

Much of the comedy arises from country bumpkin-in-the-big city-type gags as the young widow, newly arrived from the rural countryside, tries to fit in. At one point, she buys a whole new outfit, overdressing in a fancy white gown, high heels and jewelry, but she winds up getting into a kung fu fight anyway. At one point the college boys stage a costume ball: Kara goes as Marie Antoinette, while her great nephew, played by Hsiao Hou, who's the same age as her, goes as Robin Hood. Gordon Liu is one of the Three Musketeers and gets into a sword fight with a couple of thugs dressed as musketeers also. It's all a lot of fun, as long as you don't mind the comedy upstaging the kung fu for a change.

This film is a fine example of why the Shaw Brothers are among the finest directors (probably the best in the Kung Fu category). The movie is well paced, the story is excellent and intriguing, and while the humor may not be in your face, it is nested within the character interactions. Once the story builds up, and the characters begin to assess the situation does the whole tower come crashing down in one of the best fight scenes (tiger, crane and crab Hung Gar are very present). There is even a scene that mocks 18th century Western social events, and ends with clever and entertaining fighting. The movie ends with a sudden, cheesy moment, but if you are a fan of the Shaw Brothers, you'll understand that the cheese is just a topping, and not the main course of the movie.

My Young Auntie kind of disappointed me, because I feel like almost all the comedy fell flat, and it really dragged, having a two-hour runtime and not filling it very well. It was at its most tedious when it shifted away from action and did its best to be funny. From about the 15-minute mark to the start of its second hour, I found it particularly hard to stay engaged. The humor not landing might be a me thing, though, because I rarely find the comedic beats in old martial arts movies funny. Even something like Drunken Master II, which has some of the best action I've ever seen, has comedy that kind of constantly falls flat (My Young Auntie's director, Chia-Liang Liu, co-directed that one, though I think Jackie Chan kind of took over directing duties there).

But, to be fair and get a little more positive, there is good action to be found in My Young Auntie. For that, it certainly wasn't bad overall. I just found there was a good deal of not-great stuff to wade through (and, at points, honestly endure) in order to get to the good stuff. The opening scenes are solid, and much of the action in the final act delivers, but the hour in between those parts of the film? I found it to be a bit of an endurance test.