Review: 'Tai Chi 0' starring Yuan Xiaochao

One of China's biggest recent hits, Tai Chi 0 has gained a lot of attention here in the States for its blend of high-flying kung fu action and steampunk aesthetic; an east meets west collision that promised a unique visual experience. It's certainly that, but steampunk is only a small part of the picture as director Stephen Fung throws every trick he can muster at the wall, from digitized video game graphics to ridiculous casting captions. For all the energy Fung brings visually, the story is muddled and confusing, making for a poor start to a potential martial arts franchise.

With production and fight choreography by martial arts legends Jet Li and Sammo Hung, you'd expect an emphasis furious kung fu action, but what we get is mostly flash and no sizzle. A cleverly designed, Hibson-esque animated sequence helps introduce us to Lu Chan (Yuan Xiaochao), a mysterious warrior for the Divine Truth cult, who is constantly at odds with Imperial forces. A strange horn grows from Lu Chan's forehead, and when punched imbues him with incredible supernatural powers. The horn is known as the "Three Blossoms on the Crown", and a doctor warns Lu Chan that as it changes color his life is increasingly at risk. Put simply, once it goes black Lu Chan can never go back.

The only way to control it is to learn a form of "internal kung fu" only taught in the mystical Chen village. When he arrives he discovers that outsiders aren't allowed to become students, and as he appeals to the villagers, including the beautiful and tough Yuniang (Angelababy), he is met only by getting his butt kicked repeatedly. Everyone in the town is a kung fu master, and they all get in on the slapstick beatdowns, including the schoolchildren. Only the secretive Uncle Laborer (Tony Leung Ka Fai) offers any guidance in Lu Nan's quest to be trained by the village Master.

The western world's industrial revolution threatens their simple life with the return of Fang Zijing (Eddie Peng), a native who left to study abroad, and now works alongside the famous East India Company to raze the village and build a railroad. Much of the film's steampunk-flavored look comes in the form of a monstrous locomotive that threatens to destroy everything. Soap opera dramatics swirl as Zijing and Yuniang are revealed to be lovers, and as she fights against his plans to westernize the village, she inevitably becomes closer with Lu Chan.

Wildly uneven, the film wobbles back and forth between the unabashedly goofy humor of Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) and a more traditional approach. Most of the touches Fung adds are fun initially, but are then overused to an annoying degree. One example is the audacious caption every time a character is introduced, which not only tells us the actor in the role, but what they're best known for. It's funny at first, but wears thin quickly. There's a playfulness that is endearing, however, and when they finally get down to some serious brawling the action is impressive, especially since a large part of the cast don't know have nearly the training as Xiaochao brings to the table. He's got a long way to go as an actor, though. Not that he's asked to do all that much in a film like this, but when called upon he simply doesn't leave the sort of impression expected from a franchise star.

Shot back-to-back with the sequel, Tai Chi Hero, the next film is likely to have many of the same inconsistencies. Occasionally inventive and humorous, but lacking in the kung fu thrills fans of the genre are looking for, Tai Chi 0 will leave many disappointed at the wasted potential.