Dragon style ... tiger style ... I think mine is poodle style: "Kung Fu Hustle"

I'm on a roll here, back at the cineplex for the second time in three days. We have the missus to thank for this, as she suggested we sneak out to the movies on a school night. Then it was off to go parking at Inspiration Point with Fonzie and Pinky Tuscadero.

Anyway, the buzz on "Kung Fu Hustle" was that it was fun, frenetic and downright weird. The buzz is right. These days, I'm decently pumped for something that's just different. "Sin City," for example. "A Lot Like Love?" Not so much.

As for "Hustle," it's the movie that's supposed to introduce Hong Kong legend Stephen Chow to everyone, and does it ever. It's not so much the action and fight scenes, which are good but (a) not the best and (b) use too much digital trickery. Then again, that trickery meant Chow could do all sorts of crazy stuff, such as make his characters a bunch of Looney Tunes regulars, i.e. Play-Doh bodies and Roadrunner legs.

I read that if you speak Chinese the movie is even funnier, but the subtitles did the job. The story basically is how the feared Axe Gang wants to take over Pig Sty Alley, a neighborhood that is true to its name yet counts a few kung fu masters among its residents. With this plot, Chow dishes out the satire, paying homage to Tarantino, Kubrick, Broadway and a lot of other oddball stuff along with the cartoon world.

You know, I'm probably not doing a good job with this recap, and I'm not sure how I could do "Kung Fu Hustle" justice. It's sort of a mess in some ways, but that's a good thing. I'd still say go see "Sin City" first, but this movie definitely isn't boring and is pretty damn funny. Compared with the straight faces and pretty scenery of other recent Chinese movies -- oooh, Chow Yun-Fat is sooooo sensitive -- consider this one "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dunce Cap."