Jackie Chan’s Wildest Kung Fu Comedy With 85% on Rotten Tomatoes Is Still Jaw-Dropping

by

Jackie Chan, famously known as one of the best kung fu action stars ever, skillfully blends exceptional martial arts, breathtaking stunts, and humor in a slapstick style. Yet, people tend to overlook his early film work from the 1990s and 2000s, which is a pity because some of Chan’s most authentic performances can be found in his classic Hong Kong films, like the legendary “Drunken Master” directed by Yuen Woo-ping, released in 1978.

The film, titled “Drunken Master,” is often praised for housing one of the finest martial arts performances in the 1970s, thanks to Chan’s remarkable acrobatic stunts and comedic skills. The narrative revolves around Wong Fei-hung (Chan), better known as Freddie Wong in the English dub, who is a young, playful martial artist with a knack for finding himself in tricky situations. He eventually crosses paths with Beggar So (Yuen Siu-tien) and learns the unconventional “drunken” style of combat. By skillfully combining amusing pranks with top-notch choreography, “Drunken Master” is undoubtedly one of Chan’s most iconic classic kung fu movies.

Drunken Master Is Jackie Chan’s Best Old-School Kung Fu Movie

The Humor Alone Sets Drunken Master Apart From The Rest

In the movie “Drunken Master,” Wong Fei-hung finds himself in a tricky situation due to his physical altercations with his aunt and Mr. Li’s son, the local businessman. This triggers his father to engage Beggar So for harsh training as a form of punishment for Wong. After a disagreement that leads him to flee home, Wong inadvertently challenges the owner of a restaurant to pay for his meal. The restaurant staff retaliate, but an elderly drunkard, later revealed to be none other than Beggar So – one of the most skilled martial arts masters in all martial arts films – steps in to help Fei-hung fight off the remaining employees and successfully escape.

Following his loss against Thunderleg (Hwang Jang-lee), Fei-hung wholeheartedly embraces the “drunken” martial arts technique by regularly getting intoxicated and mastering the combat skills of “The Eight Drunken Immortals.” Upon Mr. Li hiring Thunderleg to execute a lethal attack on his father, Fei-hung finds himself compelled into a life-threatening reprise with the assassin, now proficient in the art of drunken boxing.

How Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master Holds Up In 2025

Drunken Master Is Still A Stellar Entry Into Chan’s Filmography

More than five decades since its debut, Drunken Master remains a thrilling, high-octane kung fu film, standing out as one of Yuen Woo-ping’s top martial arts directorial efforts. In an era overflowing with CGI effects and rapid action sequences, it’s invigorating to witness the seamless choreography of Jackie Chan, executed with such apparent ease in the film.

For an excitingly fun night, consider watching “Drunken Master“, a ’70s kung fu film that combines breakneck speed, slapstick humor, and breathtaking stunt choreography. This movie is particularly captivating as it showcases a young, ambitious Jackie Chan whose skillset, though polished, was still in its nascent stages of development. Whether you’re an ardent fan of Jackie Chan or discovering his older kung fu movie collection, “Drunken Master” remains a must-watch and continues to rank among Chan’s best works.

Read More

2025-05-11 22:39