Kung-fu comedy that works

After 60 years of guarding an ancient scroll with unlimited power, a

monk begins searching for a new guardian to replace him. The

prophecies point to a brash young pickpocket with an undisciplined

mind. Can a happy-go-lucky thief be the one who is destined to

safeguard the scroll and protect it from those who would use it for

evil? Will it help if the thief has a hottie girlfriend who

encourages him to follow the righteous path? Can people really learn

to walk on air, or is it all just hidden wires?

“Bulletproof Monk” is high-flying martial arts action movie and is

pretty funny to boot. It has some great fights as well as some

laugh-out-loud moments. The high flying action isn’t quite as high

and flying as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” but these characters

certainly do their share of defying gravity. If you can get into the

groove and suspend disbelief, you’ll have fun.

And what fun is ultimate power if no one is wielding it? An aging

relic from the Third Reich and his blond, leather clad naughty-Nazi

daughter think the world would be a better place if they had the

scroll and the power. This gives the movie a vaguely Indiana Jones

feel, but “Bulletproof Monk” walks it own path. These are corporate

Nazis with SUVs and limos.

Chow Yun-Fat plays the monk who has given up his name to be

guardian of the scroll. Yun-Fat is probably the only actor who can

ask the question, “Why do hot dogs come in packages of 10, but hot

dog buns only come in packages of 8?” and make it sound like a Zen

koan. His screen presence and understated elegance make the chaos all

around him seem funnier, more exciting and more entertaining. He’s

the reason the jokes work and the reason why this movie is so good.

Sean William Scott plays Kar, the young thief who has potential to

be the new guardian of the scroll. This begs the question, is the

world safe with Steve Stifler (“American Pie”) guarding the scroll of

ultimate power? Scott’s brash comic style contrasts strongly with

Yun-Fat’s low key humor. They have great chemistry and I never felt

like I was asked to take a huge leap of faith to understand the

partnership of their characters.

Jamie King plays Kar’s love interest Jade. She takes a role that

could have just been eye candy and works it into a character who has

some interesting qualities. King’s character is part of the new

action chick stereotype, the beautiful woman who is smart and can

kick butt. This is a refreshing change from the damsels in distress

who scream for help while arching their back.

“Bulletproof Monk” is based on a comic book, and the story feels

like a comic book, but it succeeds in fleshing out its characters

enough to make us care about them. It gives us good reasons to hate

the bad guys and like the good guys -- and we have plenty of

opportunities to laugh. This one is worth renting for sure, and if

you’re into martial arts/comedy flicks it’s worth seeing in a

theater.

* JIM ERWIN, 40, is a technical writer and computer trainer.