Royal Tramp II (1992) / Comedy-Action

MPAA Rated: R for some violence and sexual content       
Running Time: 93 min.

Cast: Stephen Chow, Brigitte Lin, Chingmy Yau, Paul Chun
Director:  Wong Jing
Screenplay: Wong Jing (based on the novel by Louis Cha)
Review published February 6, 1998

Continuing the slapstick saga of the clown prince of China (Chow, Fight Back to School), still performing his shenanigans while maintaining his position as the emperor's right-hand man.

Definitely a step down comedically from the first film, if the fight pieces are more impressive. One would think that the addition of Brigitte Lin (Swordman II, Dream Lovers) would make the film that much better, but the plot is so convoluted and the execution so ham-handed that her performance goes to waste.

The story and focus of the film is vastly different from the first film, so much so that one could surmise that they had the script from another film and tried to plug in the Royal Tramp characters into it...unsuccessfully. The film does remain somewhat watchable due to the well-choreographed action, but this time around it's just not as much fun.

It's definitely the wrong direction when what started as a spoof turns into another retread of the films it pokes fun at.

Qwipster's rating::

©1998 Vince Leo