Kung Fu Soccer Movie Review

Introduction

Few directors can boast a distinctive comedic flair like Stephen Chow. The unique blend of martial arts, physical comedy, absurdism and incredible action made Shaolin Soccer an international hit.

It is therefore exciting to see Stephen Chow back in his world with Kung Fu Soccer, this time focusing on an all-girls football team.

Shuangshuang leads her team, the Emei Women’s Football Team. They consist of ordinary working class women who have all been let go due to being seen as too old, inexperienced and lacking.

However, with the help of a martial arts master they start implementing Emei kung fu into their football strategies, aiming to win the Supreme Invincible Cup.

This is a colourful and high energy sports comedy. Whilst bringing back the ridiculousness we love from Chow’s previous works, this film also focuses on empowering women.

However, there is lots of ridiculous action and slapstick throughout. Sometimes the film struggles to balance the high ambition and spectacle with the character development required to really make you feel something.

A Welcome Return to the World of Shaolin Soccer

For fans of Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Soccer is the opportunity to enjoy Stephen Chow’s brilliantly ridiculous take on sports comedy.

The main plot points are similar and include: unorthodox athletes, amazing martial arts skills and football matches that are nowhere near realistic.

However, the main difference is that within this movie the key athletes are all female characters who have been ignored by society.

The main character Shuangshuang (Zhang Xiaofei) is the captain of this squad. The rest of the athletes are not seen as young, talented or marketable enough to play at the top level.

This makes the story line very satisfying to watch as they turn into a tough football team. For every match, there is another chance to shock their opponents.

The whole idea of using Emei Kung Fu in football is really fun. The directors have created some hilarious sporting scenes.

All of the athletes can run faster than ever before, kick like never before and do insane things that would never happen during a regular football match. This is exactly what they want to happen and they love it!

There is a big nostalgic feel to the matches. Chow knows why this comedy works so well. It is because they are taking the most ridiculous situations and being dead serious about them.

The contrast between how normal these characters are and how amazing their skills are makes this a great source of comedy.

Stephen Chow’s Trademark Absurdist Comedy

Co-directed and choreographed by Chow alongside action director Qin Pengfei, Kung Fu Soccer is built around the filmmaker’s trademark mo lei tau style of comedy.

With a reported budget of $59 million, the sport scenes are well presented. They are very elaborately choreographed and the martial arts in them get progressively more ridiculous.

Instead of trying to make the football realistic, they have gone for cartoony extremes.

This makes the film very entertaining. The action is very imaginative and fun to watch as it takes a normal football game and turns it into an over the top martial arts battle.

The comedy also benefits from the group of people having different personalities. The arguments and rivalry between the players made some of the funniest parts of the movie.

However, Chow’s comedy can be very hit or miss. The comedy is over the top and may not appeal to everyone.

There are some parts that feel like they are intentionally ridiculous and some of the comedy is more based on being over the top rather than anything clever.

If you are a fan of Chow’s previous movies then you will probably enjoy it but if you were expecting a traditional sports comedy then you may find it tiring.

A Vibrant Visual Spectacle

The cinematography by Zhao Xiaofeng brings a sense of energy to the movie. The football scenes have lots of sweeping shots and wide angles within the stadium.

There are also fast-paced shots and dynamic compositions within the action scenes to show how ridiculous their abilities are.

There is lots of over-the-top cinematography to match the over-the-top humor of the movie. The camera is often moving with the action, giving the illusion of more speed and scale.

This works really well within the bigger football games as it combines martial arts with football.

However, there is lots of CGI within the movie. Whilst the over the top plot means it makes sense to include visual effects, some of the CGI does not have the charm of the physical aspects of Shaolin Soccer.

The effects can sometimes feel like it is taking away from the action and making it feel fake.

There are reports that generative AI techniques were used within some of the more surreal sports scenes.

This can cause some strange visuals, but they do not always fit with the actors and environments. They can sometimes feel quite creepy.

This is a shame as Chow has previously been known to create magic within his movies by using physical choreography, acting and precise over-the-top cinematography.

A higher budget does not necessarily mean we get more enjoyment from the humor and Kung Fu Soccer sometimes shows how over reliance on the CGI can be a downfall.

A Charismatic Team at the Heart of the Story

The main positive of this film is definitely the cast. Zhang Xiaofei and Dilraba Dilmurat give a lot of charm to the characters.

This gives the whole cast an energetic, lively feel. The cast as a whole helps to make the film quite easy to watch and relatable while giving an entertaining list of characters.

The dynamic between the team members was very enjoyable. It gives a realistic feeling of friendship between the characters, even though there were some very ridiculous scenes in the film.

The comedic elements were best when they were just having fun with each other.

It is also nice to see a sports comedy with older working class women as the main characters. They are not young talented athletes who are being praised for their potential.

They are characters who have been told they cannot do anything and given the chance to take back some control over their lives.

Shuangshuang gives the team a solid leader. The different personalities of the players help to show a sense of the team growing together.

The film shows that it is not just about having the best individuals, it’s about trusting each other and working as a team.

Unfortunately the large cast is problematic. Some of the players do not get much character development due to how many there are.

While they do have interesting personalities, they don’t always get enough time to develop.

Female Empowerment and Second Chances

Despite the comedic and absurd elements, Kung Fu Soccer has an unexpectedly heart-warming message about women who have been forgotten by society.

The Emei team consists of people who have been told they have missed out on their best opportunities.

Ageism and society play a big role in the Emei teams struggles. The players are fighting to show that they should not be limited by what others think. This adds a more meaningful aspect to the film.

As well as this, the team come from a working class background. This makes their determination to succeed more relatable. They have a bond through their shared experiences.

I really liked how it focused on teamwork. Whilst there are some individual moments of brilliance throughout the movie, the team must learn to work together to progress.

This shows a clear message that teamwork is important and people who have been forgotten can do something amazing when they stop trying to fight their own battles.

Whilst it is not very subtle, it does have a genuine feeling to it. The theme of empowering women and giving people a second chance, along with the sports element, gives the film its own identity rather than just being a copy of Shaolin Soccer.

Pacing Problems and Missed Emotional Opportunities

Despite being an extremely entertaining movie, it fails to really give its characters enough depth. With so many characters, the screen play has to cover a lot of ground with a variety of different characters, relationships and personal stories.

Some aspects of character development can be a bit rushed. When the team is struggling internally, there is not always enough time for a major disagreement to form.

Therefore, when they do come back together as a team, it does not really feel like an emotional moment.

This is a shame as the movies main theme is about unity and trust. It should have been based around the relationships between the women, making the final unity feel like it was well deserved. However, some parts were rushed.

Sometimes throughout the movie, the action can feel a little unbalanced. Whilst it is obvious that the football is the main part of the movie, it can feel like there isn’t as much time for character development due to the constant build up of action.

Sometimes it can feel like the movie is more focused on having another extravagant scene than focusing on the characters.

A better script could have helped make the team feel more as one and the emotional scenes would have meant more. Overall there is potential but it didn’t always come together.

Final Verdict

Kung Fu Soccer is an exciting, vibrant and often entertaining sports-comedy which takes the signature style of Stephen Chow.

The female team adds a fresh perspective to the typical rags-to-riches story, whilst the mix of Emei style kung fu, crazy football, and absurd comedy creates a fun spectacle.

The acting is strong, featuring some charismatic actors in Zhang Xiaofei and Dilraba Dilmurat. The banter between members of the team produces some of the funniest moments in the film.

It also covers themes of female empowerment, ageism and giving people a second chance.

However, the film falls short of matching the charm of Shaolin Soccer. With heavy use of CGI and generative AI, the slapstick comedy can feel lost at times.

There are too many characters and the character development feels rushed, making it hard to form any emotional attachment to the story. The resolution to their team issues feels very rushed.

Overall there is a lot to like. The football scenes are hilariously absurd, the comedy still has that Stephen Chow flair and focusing on the forgotten working class women makes it feel fresh.

Whilst it does not have as tight of a storyline or emotional impact as previous works, it’s still a fun sports adventure.

If you are a fan of Stephen Chow or want a over-the-top martial arts comedy then there is enough here to make it an enjoyable match to watch.