Ma hei siu chi

CIRCUS KIDS is an action-adventure film themed around circus entertainers - no surprise there - and directed by old-time star Wu Ma. It feels heavily indebted to DRUNKEN MASTER 2 in the mingling of big and little story, but it's noticeable low budget and hampered by pretty poor direction, particularly in the action sequences; too many heads are cut off and the like. It's a pity, as this makes up for with energy what it lacks in budget. Yuen Biao is always reliably good and well supported here by Wai Lam (in a serious role), Donnie Yen as an ass-kicking cop, and Ma himself. The villain duties go to Bey Logan and the great Ken Lo, who reprises certain elements of his DRUNKEN MASTER 2 role at the great climax.