“Pedicab Driver” Poster
Pedicab Driver is often mentioned as one of Sammo Hung’s best films, and after watching it, it’s pretty easy to see why. Set in 1930s Macau, the film follows Tung (Sammo Hung), Malted Candy (Max Mok), and their friend, three pedicab drivers who spend their days getting by until romance and trouble with the local crime world turn their lives upside down.
Things really start to go wrong when Malted Candy falls for a woman working for crime boss Yu 5 (John Shum). She wants to get away from him, but Yu obviously isn’t about to let that happen. Before long, the three friends are dragged into the mess, and what starts out as a fairly lighthearted story gradually takes a much darker turn.
One thing I really like about Pedicab Driver is that it takes its time. There are stretches where the movie is more interested in the characters and their relationships than the action, and I think that actually makes the fights work better. You get to know these guys, so when things eventually explode, there’s more at stake than simply watching someone get kicked in the face.
And when the action does arrive, Hung delivers. The fights in the dim sum restaurant, gambling house, and Yu 5’s mansion are all fantastic, with the locations being put to great use. There’s also a real sense of weight behind the choreography. People aren’t just flying around untouched; they’re getting thrown into walls, tables, furniture, and pretty much anything else within reach.
The stunt team is another big reason the movie works so well. Dick Wei and Lau Kar-leung are among the familiar faces, and the final showdown is a real highlight. Hung takes on Eddie Maher and Billy Chow, with Chow bringing some great Muay Thai-style kicks into the mix. Hung, meanwhile, gets to unleash the kind of combinations and outrageous finishing moves that made his fight scenes so much fun to watch.
The movie also has a surprisingly nasty streak. It can be funny one minute and then suddenly get pretty brutal, which gives Pedicab Driver a slightly unpredictable feel. It isn’t just a string of action scenes connected by a thin plot, either. The friendships and romances actually matter, and that gives the more serious moments some weight.
Of course, if you’re coming to this purely for the fights, you won’t be disappointed. The choreography is excellent, the stuntwork is top-notch, and Hung clearly knows how to get the most out of every location. But the fact that there’s a decent story underneath all of it is what makes the film stand out.
For fans of Sammo Hung and classic Hong Kong action cinema, Pedicab Driver is an easy recommendation. It has great choreography, a terrific cast, plenty of laughs, some surprisingly dark moments, and enough mayhem to keep the action fans happy. It’s also a good reminder of just how talented Hung was, both as a performer and as a filmmaker.
Barey Gusey’s Rating: 9/10
