Rent The Last Dragon on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Louis Venosta
Directed by: Michael Schultz
Starring: Taimak, Vanity, Christopher Murney, Julius Carry
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
In New York City, Bruce Leeroy searches for a Master to obtain the final level of martial arts mastery known as "the Glow" while the Shogun of Harlem Sho'nuff challenges him to a fight.
Verdict
It's not a good movie, lacking in so many aspects, but it does manage to have some fun. So much of this movie is outright silly and even nonsensical. It makes so many wild decisions, and it can't be a surprise this movie is regarded as some kind of joke. Every aspect borders on the comedic. It's such a great example of a bad movie that seems to have had no oversight. I wouldn't call it so bad it's good, but it is so ridiculous that at least it's not a complete waste.
Skip it.
Review
Leroy Green (Taimak) is a New York kid that's so into Kung Fu that he's known as Bruce Leeroy. He's completely embraced the culture from how he eats to how he dresses. He looks completely out of place walking down the streets of the city. I have to wonder, what is this movie? It's some strange mashup of New York gangster meets Kung Fu. That or it's some kind of fever dream. If it wasn't apparent in the first five minutes, you'll realize in the next ten that this is a b-movie. I applaud the chance it takes mixing different genres.
Leeroy searches for answers to take his Kung Fu to the next, ultimate level which is described as "the glow." He also apparently likes wearing a onesy while he trains. Meanwhile Sho'nuff (Julius Carry) seeks to be declared the unofficial master of New York. I suppose when you wear a costume like Sho'nuff you need to be able to fight. Bruce Leeroy seems to be the only person standing in the way of Sho'nuff's dominance.
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| Taimak plays Bruce Leeroy |
Leeroy saves television DJ Laura Charles (Vanity), then disappears. They're both smitten with the other. Leeroy manages to save her yet again. I think she should be a little more skeptical of someone in full ninja attire. Instead she's infatuated, and it's no surprise this movie was going to embrace some tropes. The movie's villain Arkadian (Christopher Murney) wants to kidnap Laura and force her to play his girlfriends music videos. In no way is that a good plan. It's not even a serviceable short term option.
Even if we ignore the plot, and in this movie it's not a big deal, Sho'nuff's overacting is tempered by Leeroy's underacting. This movie is amateur. Leeroy thinks the person that writes fortune cookies could be the master. How would that even connect to Kung Fu? One has nothing to do with the other, but Leeroy manages to find the fortune cookie writer.
I have to mention the art of making love conversation. Bruce Leeroy alludes to drawing and paint brushes to explain his lack of experience to Laura. She understands exactly what he means, it would be difficult not to. The question is why bring it up, and why use such an awkward metaphor.
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| Julius Carry, Taimak play Sho'nuff, Bruce Leeroy |
Arkadian hasn't been deterred in his quest to commit multiple felonies, kidnapping Laura yet again. He also hires Sho'nuff for protection. In the final battle Sho'nuff reveals he has "the glow." You might think that Leeroy has no chance, but the drubbing Sho'nuff provides is exactly what he need to unlock his own glow. I thought this would lead to a more even fight, but Leeroy dispatches Sho'nuff like it's nothing. If you think that's the end, buckle up. Leeroy gets to display one more feat of awesomeness before he reunites with Laura.
This movie is wild. I won't watch it again, but I appreciate that it's entertaining from start to stop. So many bad movies lack a story, remain boring, or don't provide a conclusion. This movie has all of that, it's just a ridiculous mash up of ideas.
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