A Hong Kong/Tokyo hybrid. I say Tokyo because there's a social theme that runs beneath this "monster" movie (the head of the evil Hero Gang sees robots as superior to humans, builds stronger and stronger robots, including one to take the place of his girl friend (Sally Yeh), and even begins to turn himself into a robot). Our boys John Shum, Tsui Hark, and Tony Leung show him that even bumbling idiot humans will prevail. But that's where the similarity ends, because the bulk of the movie is pure Hong Kong crazy energy. (By the way, who of us wouldn't be tempted to make a robot version of his girlfriend in order that her looks never fade if those looks were Sally Yeh's?)

Lot's of good comedy from John Shum and Tsui Hark; I agree with the other reviewers, Tsui Hark should do more comedy roles. An unbelievably young Tony Leung doing a spot on Jackie Chan impersonation (minus the physical moves).

If I were making a collection of classic Hong Kong action/comedies, I would include this one. It wouldn't be at the top of the list, but certainly deserves a place. I'll give one example from the movie that of something that would never show up in a Hollywood movie: the way Sally Yeh's character as the bad guy's moll heroically follows her man down. Hollywood doesn't like the bad guys to have any positive characteristics; Hong Kong recognizes characters' humanity, even when they're essentially bad people.