Kung Fu Yoga 功夫瑜伽 (2017) - China / India
Reviewed as part of Jackie Chan's 66th Birthday Celebration Series
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)
The biggest problem with recent Jackie Chan movies is mainly the lack of fun element. If the fun and physical comedic is not there especially for a film like “Kung Fu Yoga”, most viewers are bounded to be disappointed. Similar in the line of “The Myth” and “CZ12”, Chan goes on an Indiana Jones style ride, but this time he ends up in the middle of India. The opening sequences of CGI effects and army fights involved a young CGI Jackie Chan which is more laughable than anything.
Jackie Chan as usual works hard in every role he plays, but is rather dumbfounded by the lacklustre script and corny dialogue. Bollywood meets Chinese cinema could have been a marriage in heaven, but this one feels like the end of a divorce. Adding to the mix is fellow Hong Kong actor Aarif Rahman whose martial arts ability is surprisingly effective on screen. Indian actors Sonu Sood seems disinterested, while Disha Patani shows up as the eye candy in another paper thin role.
All in all, there is really not much to like and enjoy about this film where laughs are far and in between. We have seen better days from director Stanley Tong who previously made “Rumble in the Bronx”, the film that kickstarted Chan’s comeback to Hollywood and the action packed “Police Story 3 and 4”. As for Chan, it’s been too long since he made something worth smiling for and the long wait continues. (Neo, 2017 / 2020)
I rated it 5/10