REVIEW: Drunken Master 2 (1994)

A flawless effort and arguably the greatest kung fu movie ever shot, DRUNKEN MASTER 2 is assembled from the collective talents of some of the genre’s greatest personalities. This is Jackie Chan’s final word on kung fu. It’s both a final bow to his original DRUNKEN MASTER days and a direct challenge to his peers.

After a series of successful historical martial arts epics appeared in Hong Kong in the early ’90s beginning with Tsui Hark’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, Jackie Chan broke his usual tendency to go against popular trends and created his answer to all these heavily wire-enhanced kung fu movies like FONG SAI YUK and IRON MONKEY.

This was a return to the role that made him a superstar in the original DRUNKEN MASTER back in 1978. As the celebrated folk hero Wong Fei-hung, Chan had solidified his trademark style, mixing meticulously orchestrated stunts, comedy and jaw-dropping martial arts.

Although having passed already passed his physical prime, Chan goes all out to prove he is capable of creating a dazzling martial arts performances as good as any from Jet Li, Donnie Yen or any of the other stars of the day. Time has proven this to be his last great screen fighting performance to match the best of his younger days.

The film features a notable cast of stars from three generations who all contribute greatly to the film’s success. Credited as director and action choreographer, Lau Kar-leung was one of Shaw Brothers’ brightest directors during Hong Kong’s ’70s chopsocky boom. Lau’s ability to create pitch-perfect kung fu fighting sequences with creativity and a reverence for traditional martial arts is very apparent in the first half of the film. The confining, opening fight between Chan and Lau under a train and a loading platform is fast and furious. Although both actors are no spring chickens, they move with a rhythm and grace that defies their age. Lau’s coup de grace is a massive fight pairing him with Chan against a huge mob of axe-wielding gang members. Even upon repeated viewings, this expertly staged melee is unbelievable. Following creative differences, Lau sadly walked off the set prior to the end of production and shot the dreadful unofficial follow-up, DRUNKEN MASTER 3. Chan and his team took over for the remaining shoot and ended up producing a mammoth end fight that lacks Lau’s precision but has all the pain and intensity of any old school Jackie Chan classic.

Chan’s onscreen parents are played by two of Hong Kong’s brightest talents. Ti Lung is another classic kung fu veteran who starred in countless Shaw Brothers films before being rediscovered by John Woo as a modern action star in the 1986 film A BETTER TOMORROW. Despite being only eight years older, he convincingly plays Chan’s father.

Mrs. Wong is played by the late, great Anita Mui who very nearly steals the show with her funny, over-the-top portrayal of Chan’s mischievous confidant. In many ways her role apes Josephine Siao’s equally terrific performance as Jet Li’s fiery mother in FONG SAI YUK.

Possessing a healthy fan base of his own is Ken Lo, Chan’s former bodyguard and JC stunt team member who has the distinction of being Chan’s star opponent during during the film’s grueling finale. Lo is a true superkicker who displays some awesome skills.

Korean stunt actor Pak Ho-sung, who appeared in MORTAL KOMBAT, plays Lo’s sidekick and performs admirably against Chan’s swift sparing.

Last but not least on the list of notable supporting stars is Lau Kar-lung’s protege, Chin Kar-lok who starred with Lau in the underrated kung fu actioner OPERATION SCORPIO. Andy Lau also makes an appearance although his role is largely a throwaway that doesn’t allow his acting abilities to shine.

Speaking of acting, Chan gets kudos for playing one of the more dynamic of his career. By using the drunken style, we get to see Chan inebriated which is a rare and delightful cinematic occurrence. He shifts from being childishly conniving to deliriously mad. No one can deny that Chan pushed all of his considerable skills to their maximum potential. This is no where more apparent than in the final struggle with Ken Lo, surrounded by smoldering fires and crud machinery within a turn-of-the-century steel factory. Anyone who has studied Chan’s screen fights can see that he dances with his opponents to a precise rhythm. This allows him to stage fights at a pace that most Western stuntmen find impossible to replicate.

Having consumed industrial alcohol, Chan works himself into such a frenzy that he’s lighting fires with his spit and smashing crates simply to relieve his excess energy, much to Lo’s amazement. The discerning viewer will notice the relatively subtle use of wires as Lo and Chan fling each other about. Purists cry foul but the effects are so carefully incorporated into the action that they only further highlight the actors’ abilities. The intensity of this fight and the use of alcohol the way Popeye uses spinach rekindles the epic finale of one of Chan’s last classic kung fu masterpieces, THE YOUNG MASTER.

Much more could be said of this film. The story is perfectly crafted to logically place each of the fights within proper context. William Woo’s traditional score is always fitting. With plenty of humor, dynamic acting from a wonderful cast and perhaps Chan’s finest martial arts display, DRUNKEN MASTER 2 is pure screen fighting bliss.

There are many enjoyable Jackie Chan movies but I count only three as must-have titles and this is one of them. The original DRUNKEN MASTER and POLICE STORY are the other two. Just a word of advice, don’t bother with Dimension Films’ pitiful English-dubbed version that replaces the original soundtrack and cuts the ending short. Seek out an uncut, English-subtitled import at all costs.

REVIEW: Drunken Master 2 (1994), 8.9 out of 10 based on 38 ratings

by Mark Pollard

Related Topics:
Chin Kar-lok  •  Drunken Fist  •  Drunken Master II (1994)  •  Genre: Kung Fu  •  Golden Harvest  •  Ho Sung-pak  •  Hung Fist  •  Jackie Chan  •  Ken Lo  •  Lau Kar-leung  •  Lau Kar-wing  •  Ti Lung  •  Videos  •  Wong Fei-hung