2
(Nothing substantial)
6
(Sexual and anatomical humor, unrealistic violence, minor strong language)
7
(Worth seeing multiple times if you can get into the humor)
The best way to describe "Kung Pow" is "odd in every aspect." Sometimes that’s good, sometimes bad, but you have to have a high threshold of weirdness to like it (which I do, by the way).
Having worked some in TV and as a video editor I am particularly intrigued by the creation method. Steve Oedekerk took footage from an old Chinese Kung Fu movie and edited it to make a completely different experience. He shot some new scenes and replaced all the dialogue, sound effects, and music. Then the real kicker, he composited into that footage new elements including himself as the new main character, props (like Taco Bell bags), and more. It’s not seamless, but I laugh so much that I overlook the flaws.
Plot? What plot? Chosen One wants revenge on Evil Betty for killing his family. Betty knows that Chosen is the one person who can defeat him and the Evil Council. That’s about it. After all, too much plot would choke the comedy. That’s all the movie is, just one joke after another.
It’s more Weird Al type humor than "Friends." You get a song about Lemur sounds, a Kung Fu cow, Master Pain changing his name to Betty, and plenty of great gags. The best is Wimp Lo who has been trained wrong by his master as a joke. His face to your fist style doesn’t seem to do him much good. Not all the jokes work, Ling’s annoying sounds battle with Betty is almost too annoying to watch, for example, but I laughed far more than I groaned.
The whole movie is one big special effect (I think it actually set a new record). Nearly every shot has a composite of images, a CG cow or baby, a tongue with a face, or something else. To be so low-budget and effects-intensive they are not bad even if they don’t always have the realism of movies like Star Wars.
I was impressed with the composer, Robert Folk. I origianlly went into this with relatively low expectations of the soundtrack. Instead the music is unique, creative, and good enough that I have listened to the soundtrack on its own several times. There are plenty of Matrix-style techno, classic rock, and Oriental influences, with some pop tunes like "Black Betty" and "Baby Got Back" thrown in for good measure.
The movie is so abnormal it’s hard to give a description that will difinitively answer the question, "Should you see this movie or not?" Some people get it, some don't. I even have a Chosimba costume (with homemade gopherchucks!) that I wear from time to time. Friends of mine who are into many of the same off-the-wall, geeky stuff that I am can't stand it and questioned my sanity for wanting to put together a costume. All I can say is that those who love it seem to REALLY love it and those who don't pretty much can't stand the thought of it.
The acting is strange since nearly every character is a project rather than one person’s ability. Ling took 4 people with a whopping 5 people to play Betty (not counting the standard stunt doubles). The story is unimportant and character development not needed. The whole thing boils down to whether or not Steve can deliver a punchline.
I’ve been a fan of musical parodies since I was very young growing up with Weird Al. I’ve been a fan of his "UHF" movie, "Spaceballs," and others like them and have been wanting a Martial Arts spoof since becoming such a big Jackie Chan fan so I suppose I was predisposed to liking "Kung Pow," which still gets dropped in my DVD player a few times a year.
Morality
There is a little bit of strong language, some unrealistic violence, and some sexual humor. Not much is risque, however there is a rather disturbing joke that implies a couple of students are about to get an undesirable cavity search.
Attention is called to Whoah's unusual chest (though we never see it uncovered), and Ling flashes her bra a couple of times.
The DVD includes a little more questionable material. Chosen uses an unlikely appendage as a weapon, gets sloppy drunk, and stares at Whoah's boob some more.
Spirituality
Steve is a Christian and has even expressed an interest in the ministry I do when I'm wearing the Kung Pow costume. But while that may show up in some of his films, this is not one of them. There is nothing spiritual or deep here.
Final Thoughts
If you like Kung Fu and spoof comedies you should check this one out, just make sure you have a high tolerance for silly and weird.
And remember…
“I'm bleeding, making me the victor.”
Buying Guide
While "Kung Pow Enter the Fist" doesn't have a lot of options from which to choose, it does have a worthy release.
There is only 1 DVD out currently and no HD version, but you may be find it grouped with other movies here and there. I'm hoping it will get the HD treatment when "Kung Pow 2" hits so I may be revisiting this guide eventually.
Final Recommendation:
Not a lot of DVD's get as creative as this one does; it really has a lot of entertaining stuff for fans of the movie. A lot of times I'll watch a DVD's special features one time through, but some of the ones here are worth revisiting. Now if we could only get a Blu-ray with this much effort put into it.
The Chosen Edition is a single disc DVD.
Video
2.35:
The quality lacks a bit thanks in large part to the original footage being so old. It has been cleaned up a good bit but can still look dull and have a little trash.
Audio
5.1 Dolby:
The audio is clear but not very robust and nothing exciting when it comes to surround sound immersion.
Packaging
The case is standard plastic.
An insert lists the chapters.
The interface is hosted by animated versions of Chosen and Betty. They talk to you and fight with each other appearing in various places throughout the DVD for much amusement.
Extras
-Commentary: Steve Oedekerk, Paul Marshal: It’s a good mix of comedy and actual information with a few annoying moments. Steve acts too hyper sometimes though he's often quite amusing.
-What Were They Really Saying: Kung Pow went through 3 dialogue tracks: that of the original movie, the new actors saying their lines on the set, and the final dialogue replacement that you hear in the movie. What Are They Really Saying lets you hear what was said by the actors on set as well as the audio from the original movie. It’s kind of interesting and occasionally funny, but unless you speak Cantonese you won't understand the Chinese parts (no English subtitles). The original English dialogue is nonsensical.
-The Long-Lost Book On Tape Version: It’s some guy that sounds like a Shakespearean actor reciting all the lines. There’s a really funny line if you listen all the way through the credits.
-Cut Scenes: Content warning: penis humor.
-Alternate Opening (0:47) This one is a slow text crawl.
-Chew Fat Lip Tortures Chosen ( 2:25) This one is kinda creepy with a shadowy villain and feral human thing.
-Chew Fat Lip Tortures Chosen II (3:36) Penis Kung Fu.
-Chew Fat Lip Tortures Chosen Alternate Voice (0:58) If you wanted the above scene with a more annoying voice, now you have it.
-Chosen & Ling's Father Hide In Bell (2:32) It's slow but funny at the end.
-The Evil Council Loves Tacos (0:30) It's kind of dumb but worth it for the tacos.
-Drunken Chosen One (2:49) This is part of the removed plot point.
-Drunken Chosen One Original Dialogue (2:47) What was he really saying? It's almost funnier than the finished product.
-I Believe Song (2:37) A really goofy song.
-I Believe Song What Steve's Really Singing (2:51) Sam Donaldson!
-Blacksmith of Glory (0:27) Dumb but funny.
-Betty Deals With Burning Fuse (0:45) Drop & roll!!
-Groin Kick-O-Rama (0:46) Ouch!
-Chosen One Takes A Beating Expanded Director's Cut (1:38) On and on and on.....
-Scenes w Alternate Dialogue:
-Wimp Lo Has Brawny Buttock (0:28) I'm a man.
-Betty's Bungee Song (0:30) What do you get.
-Mu Shu Has Trouble With Lines (0:34) You are a bacon bit.
-Betty's Unique Bird Call (0:14) Whiney call.
-Master Tang's Device (0:29) In my rear.
-Alternate Ling Ending Voice (0:28) I changed.
-Pow Visual Effects: These are so good I would love to have had more. There is a humorous intro for the set.
-Visual Effects Before and After Shots (2:05) The original movie clips shown and the new results.
-Cow Visual Effects Before & After Shots (1:28) The cow fight before the effects were added.
-Pre-Visualization Cow Animatic (3:58) A cartoony version of the fight with a lot more stuff that didn’t make the cut.
-Behind-the-Scenes Featurette (5:42) It’s mostly a TV promo but is very funny.
-Photo Gallery: These are all manual slideshows. The problem is that when you get into a gallery (for the ones that are actual photo galleries, that is) there is no button to return meaning you'll probably end up having to navigate back here from the main menu to get to the next gallery.
-Film Frames: Still shots from the movie with humorous captions.
-Cast: Showing off most of the main characters.
-Behind the Scenes: With several before and after shots.
-Press Notes: They tell you all you could want to know about the movie if you feel like reading. No, it's not a photo gallery by any stretch of the imagination, but it's in this section anyway.
-Bios: These cover 5 people. They do not include filmographies as most do, but are fairly well written pieces about their subjects. Unfortunately, none of the original cast or crew are included.
-Tonguey Tribute (0:51) This is a presentation of all the scenes Tonguey appears in.
-Kung Pow Promos: There are 3 Fox promos. It looks like they were used during and after TV shows. They are short and silly.
-Promo 1 (0:30) "Malcom in the Middle" is next.
-Promo 2 (0:46) Interrupting "Hot Shots."
-Promo 3 (0:26) I hope you're enjoying "Hot Shots."
-A Panicked Thumb (0:05) There is a very short clip from "Thumb Wars." Just something to make you say, “Huh?”
-Theatrical Trailer (1:58) It gives away the sacred mark.
-Preview: A trailer for Super Troopers.
-A Fond Farewell (0:39) Finally to end it all, Chosen One and Betty in their 2D clipart forms deliver a farewell message to DVD viewers.
Easter Eggs:
-Nipple Thump (0:08) A slow motion scene accessed by going to the Special Features menu, highlighting More, and moving up to reveal a cow.
-Outtakes (0:37) This is a short clip of the Willy Dance outtakes. It’s funny, but maybe not for kids. Go to the Cut Scenes menu, highlight The Evil Council Loves Tacos, and move right to reveal Chosen.