I seem to recall that round the time of release, Bulletproof Monk got some good press and pretty decent reviews. So imagine my surprise when not only was the film not really what I was expecting in terms of content (I think I mixed it up with Equilibrium), but also it wasn’t as good as I thought it was supposed to be either.
I’ve never been a fan of “mis-matched partners” films. Here, Tibetan monk Chow-Yun Fat and New York street thief Seann William Scott team up to protect an ancient scroll. Lots of martial arts fighting (and, as Scott is in it, “funny lines”) ensue.
The problem is, it’s all either obvious, or badly done. The scene where Kar (Scott) squares up against “Mr Funktastic” (played by quite possibly the worst actor ever) and his goons just made me cringe it was so cheesy. In fact, it reminded me a lot of a scene in the absolutely dire – but funny for that reason – Exterminator 2. The addition of the daughter of a Russian mobster, the English Mr Funktastic, and a Japanese owner of a Chinese cinema, all just seemed to add unnecessary nationalities to the story for no apparent reason.
There was also a slight twist at the end that I didn’t see coming, although it made me feel sick in that way over-exposed mush often does.
Thankfully, the fighting was mainly well done. It didn’t quite fit, as it felt a bit like Crouching Tiger in New York, but I’ll allow it that. John Woo fans will be pleased to know there’s a John Woo Signature Gunfight half-way through the film too.
Overall, it was watchable (if not completely enjoyable), but felt very much like a kid’s martial arts film with added swearing and Nazis. Perhaps if it moved closer to one end of the spectrum rather than sitting awkwardly in the middle, it may have faired better.
Verdict: 2/5
