Wu Dang (2012) Review

“Wu Dang” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Patrick Leung Pak Kin
Cast: Yang Mi, Vincent Chiu Man Chuk, Fan Siu Wong, Xu Jiao, Dennis To Yue Hong, Nina Pau Hei Ching
Running Time: 101 min.

By HKFanatic

‘Vincent Zhao and the Treasure of the Wu Dang Mountains’ – I guess that title is a bit of a mouthful, but it would have likely given viewers a better idea of what to expect from this movie than “Wu Dang.” This 2012 Chinese-language picture is a light, breezy martial arts fantasy with a bit of an Indiana Jones flavor.

Vincent Zhao, who recently made headlines by dropping out of Donnie Yen’s action movie “Special Identity,” stars in the lead role of a studied professor and treasure hunter. His latest adventure sends him to a combat tournament in the middle of the Wu Dang mountains. In a display of questionable parenting skills, Zhao tows his plucky daughter, portrayed by Xu Jiao (who played a boy in Stephen Chow’s “CJ7“), along for the ride while he contends with a rival hunter in the form of pop music and TV sensation Yang Mi.

Unfortunately, the filmmakers feel like they’re on autopilot for what should have been a spirited journey. Since the audience is kept in the dark about Vincent Zhao’s motivations for most of the movie, his character comes across as more of a grave robber than a hero we can actually root for. The plot is built around the mystery of the Wu Dang temple’s artifacts, but when the characters aren’t fighting over them the movie’s runtime is devoted to two playful romances with ridiculous age gaps.

In the story, Vincent Zhao’s daughter shares some innocent-minded flirtation with a Buddhist monk portrayed by Louis Fan of “Ricki-Oh” fame. These days Fan is pushing 39, which wouldn’t be a problem except for the fact that Xu Jiao isn’t even legal yet. Meanwhile, the screenplay seems to suggest a 40 year-old Zhao will end up shacking up with the 20-something Yang Mi. It’s hard to sell your movie as light, inconsequential fluff when the central relationships are going to make most viewers a tad uncomfortable.

All might be forgiven if “Wu Dang” succeeded where we expect most Chinese-language action pictures to excel: the fight scenes. And to director Patrick Leung’s credit, he secured one of the best talents in the industry by assigning Corey Yuen to choreograph the action in “Wu Dang.” Sadly, he must have caught Yuen on an off day. With “Wu Dang,” we’re a long ways from Corey Yuen’s “So Close” and an even longer way from “Righting Wrongs.”

There’s nothing particularly awful about the fighting in “Wu Dang”; then again there’s nothing particularly inspired about it either. The actors are clearly assisted by wires and stand-ins – but what’s worse is that the editing is simply too fast to really appreciate the moves onscreen. The action here seems designed around what the actors could or couldn’t do, rather than in the interest of choreographing some truly show-stopping fights. It’s a bit of a shame when we know actors like Vincent Zhao and Louis Fan still have the moves even though they’re nearing middle-age.

The film’s key setpiece involves Vincent Zhao and Yang Mi teaming up to take on an angry mob in the middle of a two-tiered monastery room. This sequence was featured heavily in the trailers and it’s a moment when the movie really seems to take off. In the midst of battle, Vincent Zhao and Mini Rang even stop to engage in a slow-motion ‘dance’ of sorts – while it may not be the big romantic moment that director Patrick Leung was likely going for, it is a nice stylistic touch. “Wu Dang” could use more of this kind of playfulness, but it’s clear you can only do so much when Vincent Zhao seems incapable of projecting more than a monk-like stoicism. In other words, he’s no romantic lead – which is partially why he excels in action-driven roles like “True Legend” or “Fist Power,” instead of family-oriented adventure films like this.

Despite a tableu of relationships which are, at the very least, a bit icky, it’s safe to say that “Wu Dang” is inoffensive enough; perhaps an entry-level martial arts film for the young’uns. It’s the kind of movie that makes sense coming from the co-director of “The Twins Effect II,” though Corey Yuen has clearly displayed he’s capable of much more intricate choreography as recently as last year’s “Shaolin.” The key thing about “Wu Dang” is that, while the action lacks quality, it’s certainly there in quantity: the movie’s runtime tends to fly by as Vincent Zhao and company get into one brawl after the other. “Wu Dang” fails to make a strong impression but, on the upside, it didn’t make me feel like I’d wasted my night either.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 6/10