Ip Man 2 (2010) – on rental. I’m not sure what’s it with these Hong Kong films centered on the stories of these Chinese martial arts masters, but they sure look like as though they’re going through the same script repeatedly. While watching Ip Man 2, I had to look back into the DVD’s box title again to make sure I wasn’t watching Wong Fei Hong XX.
The film is loosely based on the real martial arts master, Yip Man. The gentleman taught Wing Chun, and his most famous student was Bruce Lee (there’s an utterly tacky scene about this factoid at the end of the film). The new film begins with a nifty montage of key scenes from the first film. The kind of help it offered towards story orientation to new viewers like myself was limited though; the montage had no dialog, so you can only roughly see what the story is about so far in the most general sense.
As the story goes in the new film; Ip Man is in near-poverty but has to support his gorgeously but ridiculously 21st century-looking pregnant wife (Lynn Hung). So, he sets up shop renting the top level of a laundry building to train students in Wing Chun. Unfortunately, his rival martial arts clans – lead by a still surprisingly agile Sammo Hung who plays master Hung Chun-nam – don’t take kindly to the new guy, so they make him jump through a couple of hoops to prove his prowess as a martial artist before they let him run his school. Thrown into the mix somewhere is this British boxer who wants to make an example of all Chinese martial artists. Ip Man takes up this challenge to defend Chinese honor, integrity, martial arts, blah blah blah.
Thing is; you’ve seen it all before in the Tsui Hark Wong Fei Hong films starring Jet Li. All that stuff in Chinese martial arts films about defending Chinese honor against the red devils. The western fighter beats up every other Chinese contender, until the great master reluctantly comes out to make all of us cheer when he beats up the Ang Mo guy, then concludes by waxing lyrical about why all men should respect each other and live in peace.
The title character is played by Donnie Yen, the multi-talented martial artist, actor and action-film director. While his pugilistic skill takes center stage on the screen, acting seems to be completely out of Yen’s element. This guy’s the Asian equivalent of Keanu Reeves’ wood. The scenes where he’s supposed to smile will result in you thinking he’s really grimacing. The scenes where he’s troubled look like he’s constipated.
And that’s the key difference between Ip Man and Wong Fei Hong. I’m not about to claim that Jet Li is a great actor, but the guy can at least act – and he’s got a naturally humorous look and air of irreverence about himself.
And as for the supporting cast; the guys playing the Ang Mos seem to be deliberately overacting, Lynn Hung’s only function is to be the wallpaper and stand around looking pretty (even the normally non-critical Ling says Hung has no real personality in the film), and Ip Man’s disciples are all cookies from the same cutter: they are look samey and constitute background filler, with the exception of one guy who’s the first and lead disciple but has a pissed look permanently stuck on his face. The only person who displays any kind of acting chops in the film is veteran Sammo Hung, even if his back story about his oversized family looks like a cheap shot at eliciting sympathy and understanding for why this guy is the way he is.
The fight scenes are a different matter though. They don’t reach the height of absurdity in the Wong Fei Hong films. Remember that fight in the first film 20 years ago in the warehouse using bamboo poles? Many of the scenes in Ip Man 2 are filmed close-up where you’ll see the actors’ faces, and more importantly their fists as they pummel each other or deliver those flying kicks to their unlucky victim’s midriff. There’s also a non-descript soundtrack that gets all hot and drum-heavy at the appropriate moments that help drive the adrenaline you’ll get watching those fight scenes.
So, watchable for the fight scenes. A big Fail in the story and acting. You’ve been warned. Check Ann’s blog entry for a second opinion here.
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