Review courtesy of Jet Li UK - The Official Jet Li UK Fan Club (www.jet-fans.co.uk)

Made in the same year as the first film this was also directed by Yuen Kwai and is essentially more of the same but when the original was so good that is no bad thing at all. This sequel is in general lighter and funnier than its predecessor.

There is a slight made-under-constraints air to the film (maybe money but more likely time) but that gives it a tension that adds to the film. Asides from the comic elements the action is also up to the standard of the first film.

Siao Fung Fung returns as Fong Sai Yuk's mum and most welcome she is too as she is one the funniest actresses I have seen in a Hong Kong film ever. There is a classic scene where both her and Sai Yuk's nerves are "frozen" and the only way they can become reanimated is to get stung by a bee - the two of them are trying to blow the bee onto one another when Sai Yuk blows too hard sending it right down his mums throat (cue face pulling) !

Whilst not as good in some respects as the first the script does if anything have a greater clarity. The story revolves around The Red Flower Society (and Sai Yuk's conflicts with the villain of the piece Mr Yu).

Sai Yuk is ordered to embark on a mission where he has to court a girl in order to find out a secret. Then his wife finds out and is less than pleased as you might imagine.....

Sai Yuk accuses Mr Yu of being a traitor but without the evidence to back it up has to pay for his accusations. He is struck about the hands and feet but the chiefs blows are measured and don't inflict maximum damage.

The secret turns out to be that Chen Jialou (chief of The Red Flower Society) has a link with the Manchu's. He is thrown in jail and that is the cue for Mr Yu to assume control which was his ultimate aim.

Fong Sai Yuk learns a skill (which in this case is being blindfolded while having eight swords tucked into your belt) with which to combat Mr Yu and his cohorts. It goes without saying the he lays waste big time to Yu's minions (this is one of the great scenes of the film - a major ass kicking).

Having administered the final beating Sai Yuk's mum comes out with one of the all time classic lines : "Why are villains so dumb ?"

The final scene is hilarious. Sai Yuk's wife and the woman he was ordered to court both appear to have a Fong family heirloom which turns out to be a Jade bracelet which his mum has by the dozen which leads to Sai Yuk making a quick escape with both women in pursuit.

Whilst the final showdown is slightly disappointing it remains a worthy sequel (remember that the majority of sequels suck to a greater or lesser degree). The first was worth getting and so is this !