REVIEWS
TOUGH BEAUTY AND THE SLOPPY SLOP (1995)
RATING:
Hong Kong/Philippines
Mandarin
97 Minutes
REVIEW:
SYNOPSIS:
This 80's styled mid-90's movie of an interesting title pairs martial arts and acrobatic phenom Yuen Biao with Cynthia Khan (In The Line Of Duty IV) under the direction of Biao's former Peking Opera classmate Yuen Bun. It's usually shrugged off as another semi-decent Supercop rip-off, and for good reason - it's just that. From the basic low-budget shootout opening, it's apparent that this Phillipino production will linger in mediocrity for the remainder of its duration, only made watchable by the saving graces of its two stars (referring to Yuen Biao and Monsour Del Rosario) and a superb villain, veteran Billy Chow (even though he only gets minutes of screen time and the one finale fight).

The fighting is fairly average. Choreography is basic kickboxing (80's style) and has enough of power and speed to mildy satisfy the taste for violence, but all of the fights are too short, and the camerawork isn't good enough to capture the action well. The fighting lacks energy and is slow way too often (for the exception of Yuen Biao, Billy Chow, and Monsour Del Rosario). Although most of the fighting appears to be tight, it's easy to spot off-timing reactions everywhere. The first martial arts fight is very brief, Cynthia Khan fighting Yuen Wah, and ends with Wah's double crashing through a scaffold. Looks very painful. Good end to a bad fight. The stunts would all be half-decent if not for the constant cutting (sometimes absolutely ridiculous like Yuen Wah and Cynthia Khan jumping off of a 3-story roof and landing on their feet), close-ups, and overall cheapness present in virtually all of them.

Phillipino Olympic Tae Kwon Do master and World Champion Monsour Del Rosario steals the show in whatever scene he's in offering some of the best Philipinno movie fighting ever (although only seconds of it are featured here). Had the fights been longer, and with better camerawork and stunts, this movie could have really been something with such talent.

The film wisely relies on comedy to carry through the plot in moment devoid of action, but comes across uninspired, and offers little to enhance the viewing experience. The chemistry between Yuen Biao and Cynthia Khan is good enough to keep viewers from being bored, but there are too few jokes of too little comedic value. Khan is slow and unconvincing in the fighting bits, but she looks good so that's forgivable, whereas Biao is noticeably kicked back instead of kicking bad guys. When he's taking part in the action, it's of course to his standard, but that's not much in terms of quantity.

The finale is definitely worth the wait, and is climatic enough. Rising tension explodes in a raging gun battle featuring some good (but short) martial arts showdowns. The automatic weapons are put to good use in the best action of the movie, and the fights are very well done here as well. Khan is at her best in the 2-on-1 face-off against Billy Chow with Yuen Biao. Hands down the best and longest fight in the movie, but Chow and Biao are capable of better. Fast, crisp kickboxing, great falls and stunts. Fantastic 4-star fight (minus the ending) that is worth watching even if the rest of the movie isn't.

Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop also featured a load of Hong Kong stars in cameos, but with such a basic film, it doesn't really add much. It's a mediocre attempt, but hey, you can't blame them for trying. Martial arts action movies were on the decline, and if the Phillipinnes were the only place to get it done, then why not - it's better than nothing. It will take more than the casual fan to enjoy the whole thing however.
A multi-national gang headed by Mr. Wei (Waise Lee) and his boss (Billy Chow) and is using counterfeit money produced in the Philippines to buy and traffic them in mainland China and Hong Kong. In a police co-operation, Captain Yiang (Cynthia Khan) from mainland China is sent to the Philippines to join undercover Hong Kong cop Li Chin Tang (Yuen Biao) and Phillipino cop Major Sandos (Monsour Del Rosario) to solve the case. Together they must defeat hordes of gun-totting, martially inclined baddies, all while comedically trying to stay undercover.

CHOP SOCKY CINEMA © 2010.

REVIEW DATE: 01.18.04
Alan Chui
Yuen Bun
David Lam Wai
Alan Chui
Yuen Biao
Cynthia Khan
Waise Lee
Yuen Wah
Billy Chow
Tam Suk Mui
Monsour Del Rosario
Alan Chui
Jerry Bailey
Alex Man
David Lam Wai
Peter Chan Lung
Shum Wai
Lam Wai
Wong Ngok Wa
Leung Shun Yi
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