Der Powerman

I first heard of this when TNT was showing it after the TV premiere of Rumble In The Bronx. I couldn't make it through the first 10 minutes because of the bad dubbing and the mixing around of scenes (The very first scene was Jackie and Yuen skateboarding in Spain, rather than them waking up and getting into their morning routine). A couple of months ago, I got the Hong Kong DVD and loved it.

The movie is about Thomas (Chan) and David (Biao), two Chinese guys who run a successful food truck business in Spain. They get caught up in wannabe detective Moby's (Hung) case to find a Spanish heiress, and the fun goes from there. The chemistry is great between the three brothers, and Lola Forner is a great distraction. The writing is funny, and Sammo's direction is right on target. The fight scenes are great. If you want to watch vintage Jackie, watch this film as he can move quick. The much talked about fight between Chan and Benny "The Jet" Urquidez does not disappoint. Want a lesson in how to do a fight scene? Watch these two guys go at it (They would have a rematch a few years later in Dragons Forever).

For all of you fans of JC credit outtakes, there is none (JC didn't start using them until Police Story). But in a funny, action packed movie like this, you won't care. It is one of The 3 Brothers best, and it will leave you wanting more.

Great movie with, trio of world's most famous kung-fu action stars (Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Bao) in their prime. This is the movie that basically established Jackie Chan's style of combining slap stick humor with action in international settings. The trio broke the barrier of traditional Hong Kong movie making style in this film. Being from the same Peking Opera school, their friendship can be seen even through their acting.

Jackie and Yuen operates a food wagon and Jackie plays a waiter on roller skates. They get entangled with a prostitute who are hunted by gang of thugs which gets them entangled in trouble as well.

You can see that they were having fun making this movie, and you'll also see the incredible physical prowess of the three actors.

Masterpiece for the three actors who became international stars in the coming years.

I just wonder about the title though. Shouldn't it be Meals on Wheels instead of Wheels on Meals ?

I like this, more so than any other Chan+Sammo collaboration. Most of it is a bit weird, but the sense of humor, essential to all martial arts movies, is right there with the skills of Sammo and Jackie. Sweet and sour plum!

The basic synopsis of Wheels on Meals is as follows: Jackie Chan and Yuen Baio are two Chinese immigrants who run a mobile snack van business in Barcelona. Sammo Hung, also a chinese immigrant living in Barcelona, works as a very badly dressed PI. Sammo is hired by a dubious looking gentleman in a bowler hat to track down a Spanish girl, who it just so happens is the daughter of Yuen Baios dad's girlfriend. This sets the scene for, amongst other things, a bizarre retro skateboarding sequence, a ludicrous car/van chase and a top class fight at the end.

For me, Wheels on Meals represents the ultimate combination of comedy kung fu and naive slapstick humor. It's worth pointing out that this film isn't as good a Martial Arts flick as some of the earlier works that it's three main stars were involved in (Young Master, Magnificent Butcher, Prodigal Son, etc). However, the main strength of Wheels on Wheels is it's ability to get new mileage out of some very old gags, and it also proves once and for all that unusual hats can be very funny.

I give it nine out of ten.

This movie contains the apparent 'best jackie chan fight' ever, which is why I bought it, I guess I expected too much. The last fight really is excellent, but didn't top Drunken Master, or 'Gorgeous' for my standards.

What really stunned me about the last scene was the excellent choreography, and Benny "The Jet"'s great skill. The actually thought this may be Jackie's best "Movie" even if the fight scene at the end was his 3rd best IMO. Sammo Hung is really quite a character, good acting skills and a unique look, not to mention he is a skilled Martial Artist. The plot, as simple as it is, leaves you quite entertained through-out the movie, and Lola Forner is great too. I only wish my DVD has better English subtitles!

10/10