Do you ever remember the old conduct of your adventure books that used to be so popular? You know, the ones where you select an option and have to go-to another page to continue the story. Watching “Dr Wai” brings back those memories given the wrap around narrative. Throw in a blatant nod to Indiana Jones and there is a lot of nostalgia at play. Continuing with the reviews of Eureka Entertainment's release of the “Heroes and Villains” Jet Li box set, it's time to dig out the explorer's hat, select follow-this-adventure and see if this feature is a lost treasure or deserves to be lost in the midst of time.
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Chow Si-kit (Jet Li) is the writer of the popular Adventure King series (also Jet Li). A messy divorce from his wife Monica Rosamund Kwan) has led to a drink problem, writer's block and a tetchy relationship with his co-workers Shing (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and Yvonne (Charlie Yeung). With the latest story stuck, they decide to start writing it for him. Observing their work, a frustrated Chow Si-kit redoes their narrative turning Kumiko (also Rosamund Kwan) from love interest to evil spy until an accident with Monica sees them both end up in hospital. Shing, Yvonne and ultimately Monica all take turns to create the latest instalment leading to some wild adventures befitting the Adventure King.
Reviewing Hong Kong cinema for so long means encountering frequent tonal shifts. So, it's refreshing to actually have a film that does this intentionally. With one release editing the “modern” sequences out, the Hong Kong release allows via these segments to riff on these old adventures and how they reflect the author's worldview. Chow Si-kit instantly makes Kumiko viscious as is going through marital strife. His subordinates have a more romantic take before Monica brings a more reflective tone. This wrap around forced by circumstances (Accident resulting in damages to sets forcing a rewrite. Definitely irony here!) actually adds to the feature by making the characters in the Adventure King story avatars of their counterparts. It's something a little different.
Check also this interview
The Adventure King segments (and where the Budget is clearly spent) are perfectly suited to Ching Siu-tung's brand of wire work. Opening with a spectacular scene of a horse drawn idol trampling over everyone, it's recognizably his style. We get trains crashing through buildings, giant rats, wire fu confrontations and the craziness that we associate with his best work whilst recognizing the absurdity as is pure “fiction”. Naturally we also get ninjas, as it wouldn't be a Ching Siu-Tung movie without them!
The duality concept is a fun one with all the characters cropping up in a different form through the adventures. Billy Chow's lawyer almost inevitably is a Japanese villain. Colin Chou's sleazy suitor is a suitably crazed final boss bad guy. Shing is the sidekick in love with both Yvonne and avatar Yan Ayn. Jet Li gets to be both hero and grumpy writer too.
If there is a weakness then it's again, with irony, the script. The forced revision means there is little depth in the characters and the story doesn't kick into life outside of the action sequences. The sentimental finale doesn't fully make sense (best to just go with it!) so whilst undeniably entertaining, the pace can drag despite the 91 minute running time. It also means the performances are caricature-like with their adventure king aliases switching depending on who the author is at the time.
Jet Li seems more comfortable being action lead as the Adventure King as opposed to his more grouchy alias. Rosamund Kwan has little to do in the wrap around scenes other than to berate Chow Si-kit. In the other storyline, she switches from damsel-in-distress to man-hating, whip-wielding tyrant and back. There is little of their “Once upon a time in China” chemistry but in fairness, given these switches, it's perhaps inevitable. Takeshi Kaneshiro and Charlie Yeung have more fun and are clearly enjoying themselves with their parts. Colin Chou too is having a ball as the crazed villain once the box is opened and cause him to lose his sanity.
Overall this is a fun feature. Perfectly set up for Ching Siu-tung and his brand of Wire Madness. The story is enhanced by the wrap around narrative but hampered by a lack of structural pacing. Get past this and there is a lot to enjoy. No classic but an entertaining way to spend your time.
