Only the second film to star Sammo Hung, 1978’s Enter the Fat Dragon is often over-looked and is increasingly hard to get hold of. It’s also pretty brilliant. In an age where Hong Kong was still coming to terms with the passing of the Little Dragon, and had built an industry out of finding the successor to his throne, this film stands head and shoulders above anything cynically produced to cash in on Bruce’s likeness. The fact that it was a parody (only at times, mind, and only in the most respectful way) may have had something to do with it.

This also features the acting talents of Roy Chiao. It has to be said that the english dub version of this is vastly superior to anything I’ve seen before – I guess the dubbing team had an unusual amount of fun with it, and it shows. Roy Chiao’s response to the line, “I just tortured that girl in my mind…and I’m glad” is perhaps the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in a Hong Kong film. Sadly, it wasn’t presented in widescreen and you couldn’t see what was going on half of the time (no luxuries such as pan-and-scan for this film!), so you’ll probably have to make do with the subbed and grainy Crash Cinema DVD if you can still get it.

Action-wise, this is a must for fans of the nunchaku. Although only used in one scene, the very sight of Sammo wielding this weapon brought a big soppy grin to my face. Living in the UK, we still look at nunchaku scenes as a bit of a novelty, having had them removed for so long. It would be another twelve years before he would use them again (in Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon). Although the action does take a back seat to the comedy in places, the humour on show here is far superior to many others of its age, and has travelled surprisingly well. If you generally dislike Hong Kong comedies, you may be surprised at what’s on offer here.

On the controversial use of a Chinese man playing a black man: yes, Lee Hoi-Sang does “black-up” for this film, but I do not believe this was done out of any deliberate desire to stereotype race or with any sense of malice (unlike for example Don’t Give a Damn – which seems to wallow in its ignorance). I’m sure they would have got Jim Kelly if they could have afforded him, or another black actor if they could have found one who could have performed the necessary moves. It’s important to remember that this film was supposed to be a parody of Enter the Dragon, and you can’t have Enter the Dragon without Jim Kelly. It would be disrespectful not to represent him in some way, although admittedly the solution could be seen as offensive.

In summary, a sadly neglected classic that is far funnier than it has a right to be. It deserves a proper remaster and re-issue NOW.