Twin Dragons (1992)

Twin Dragons (1992)
Aka: Brother vs. Brother
Chinese Title: 雙龍會
Translation: Double Dragon Club

 

Starring: Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Nina Li Chi, Teddy Robin Kwan, James Wong Jim, Sylvia Chang Ai-Chia, Kirk Wong Chi-Keung, David Chiang Da-Wei, Mabel Cheung Yuen-Ting, Alfred Cheung Kin-Ting, Johnny Wang Lung-Wei
Director: Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam
Action Directors: Yuen Woo-Ping, Stephen Tung Wai, Tony Leung Siu-Hung, Tsui Siu-Ming, Chris Lee, Jackie Chan

In Clyde Gentry’s Jackie Chan: Inside the Dragon, Gentry places his remarks about this movie in the chapter reserved for “Jackie’s other children.” That expression is used to describe the Jackie Chan movies that, up until 1997, had been directed by others who didn’t quite share Jackie’s approach to moviemaking. That would include Gordon Chan (Thunderbolt), Wong Jing (City Hunter) and Kirk Wong (Crime Story). Gentry more or less summed up the chapter by stating that Chan himself hated all these films, although he showed a bit of ambivalence toward Drunken Master II (directed by Lau Kar-Leung). The criticism with this particular movie is that despite having two critically-acclaimed directors running show—Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam—neither of the men’s style really show through. Instead, it feels like a standard Jackie Chan action comedy whose detours into goofiness rival the dumbest moments of My Lucky Star.

There is a certain reason for Twin Dragons feeling like less of a movie than usual. That is that it was meant as a fundraiser for the Hong Kong Director’s Guild, specifically to get said organization its own office. Despite the moving making 33 million HKD at the time—placing it at #9 for that year in a particularly strong year for domestic films—apparently the Director’s Guild didn’t get their office built. In any case, it is mainly a disparate collection of action scenes and sight gags, held together by a thin story and tinge of romance.

I came across this some time during my junior year in high school, circa 1999. I had stopped by the S-Mart Supermarket located behind my school and was just looking around when I noticed a bargain bin full of VHS tapes. Lying right on top of the pile of tapes was Twin Dragons, priced at $9.99. I don’t even remember why I was even at the market. I saw that and stroked my chin. I didn’t buy it immediately, but after re-reading Clyde Gentry’s remarks on the film, I went to S-Mart again the following Friday after school and bought it with my lunch money.

Now, the funny part is that a couple of months after I bought this, Dimension Films released this with an all-new dub—presumably with Jackie Chan dubbing himself—to American theaters. Although by this point, I was making it a point to support Asian stars in whatever they could get released in the States, I decided to not do that with this one. Instead, I got the gang together at my friend Peter’s house and we just watched my VHS (which had the international dub, plus 15 minutes of footage not to be seen in the new release). The movie only made 8.3 million dollars in the US and Canada (losing about 40 dollars in revenue because I didn’t take my friends to see it), but was successful in Pan-Asian markets, as Chan films were wont to be at the time.

I’ll forego my usual semi-detailed plot synopsis, both because I’m pretty sure my base has already seen it and because trying to sum up the “story” is a bit of thankless task. Needless to say, Chan plays a dual role as renown pianist, John Ma, and a kung fu-fighting car mechanic, Boomer. The latter has a run-in with the local Triads and as that problem spirals out of control, John is sucked into it as well. There is also a subplot in which John falls for Barbara (Maggie Cheung), a karaoke singer whom Boomer’s friend, Tyson (Teddy Robin Kwan) already has the hots for. Meanwhile, a series of mishaps involving mistaken identity places Boomer in bed with Tammy (Nina Li Chi), a hot young lady whose father is trying to marry her off to John for his own benefit.

Although the real-life Jackie Chan has never been a squeaky-clean guy, he always does a good job at playing that sort of role in his movies. At the very least, he’s a regular, likable Joe who happens to have awesome acrobatic kung fu abilities. Playing dual roles allows him to play up to that good boy image while simultaneously playing against type in the form of Boomer. Boomer is a working-class fellow with a ponytail, a smoking habit, and a penchant for getting into trouble with the wrong people. Early dialog suggests that he’s also active on the illegal driving circuit, which comes up later in the film, albeit not in the way one might initially imagine. As I understand it, Armour of God (1987) featured Jackie Chan’s first love scene, which he admitted was even scarier to him than almost dying. Twin Dragons would thus feature his second love scene, although it’s quick and played mainly for laughs. Later on, Nina Li drops her towel in front of John before getting into a bathtub with him. In other words, Jackie presumably got to see what Jet Li was seeing at that time. So, would that make Jackie Chan and Jet Li eskimo brothers?

Maggie Cheung plays the fourth side of the bizarre love “rectangle.” Despite Tyson’s attempt to “stake a claim” on her Barbara character, she initially falls for Boomer. That makes sense, as one is a martial arts dynamo and the other is an annoying klutz—I’m pretty sure 9 out of 10 people will agree that Teddy Robbin’s character is the low point of this movie. However, after meeting John (despite thinking he’s Boomer), she falls for him instead. What I like about this movie is that it didn’t make Maggie Cheung the nagging (or angry or concerned) girlfriend that the Police Story movies made her. She is given a meatier role than her recurring role as May in those films.

Villainy is provided by several actors. Initially, the Triad boss is Yung, played by actor-director Alfred Cheung. As a director—most of the cast are veteran HK directors—Cheung is best known for the Her Fatal Ways series[1]. Interestingly enough, Boss Yung is forgotten about some 30 minutes in after a goofy sight gag involving a mannequin bouncing back and forth against two vehicles. His cronies, played Shaw brothers veteran Johnny Wang Lung-Wei[2] and actor-director-producer Guy Lai[3], then pick up the slack. Then wait! In the last act, we learn that Boss Yung (who has since disappeared from the script) has a boss, played by director Kirk Wong[4]. Kirk Wong’s character was the same guy who caused the separation of the Ma twins at the beginning of the film. How coincidental is it for him to be the head of the same Triad some 27 years later!

As there are dozens of directors in supporting roles and cameos throughout, it comes without surprise that there are a half dozen action directors attributed to Twin Dragons, too. And it goes without saying that these men also had varying experiences as movie directors, too. Yuen Woo-Ping needs no introduction, having directed a number of classic old school movies and modern-day action films. Stephen Tung Wai had been working as an action director since the late 70s, and had directed his first movie, the supernatural action film Magic Cop, a couple of years earlier. Chris Lee, a former Sing Ga Ban member, had started his directing career the year before with Queen’s High. Tony Leung Siu-Hung, brother of Bruce Leung Siu-Lung, was a dependable B-list choreographer with A-grade potential, and had directed at least one movie by this point. Finally, Tsui Siu-Ming was a seasoned director, directing crazy stunt action fests like Mirage and Bury Me High.

Despite the combined talent of these men, much like the collaboration of Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam, there isn’t a whole lot of their individual styles that show through in the fights. It’s mainly Jackie Chan doing what Jackie Chan does best. An early fight at a karaoke club has some nice kicks and wince-inducing use of glass panes, including Wang Lung-Wei breaking a pane over Jackie’s back. A short fight against Tammy’s boyfriend, played by Shaw Brothers stuntman-turned director Jamie Luk[5], is played for laughs, although Chan once more does some nice kicks. After the first set piece, the fighting is turned down until the 15-minute climax, set at a car-testing center. In the meantime, there is a boat chase and a well-done car chase, full of nice car stunts and general vehicular mayhem.

The big climax is vintage Jackie Chan, complete with great martial arts and some neat stuntwork from Chan the man. The stunts include running onto a moving car as it races toward him. Some versions show the stunt at regular speed, while others show it in both slow motion and regular speed. Another stunt has Chan barely jumping out of the way as a car smashes against a wall behind him as part of a crash test. In another display of agility and timing, Chan rolls under a car and out the other side as the villains kick out the jacks holding it up, narrowly missing Chan on both sides. The first part of the climax, which involves a series of mistaken identity gags in a carwash room and heating room of the factor, goes on a bit long. But once they’re in the garage, there’s some neat stuff on display. But to get there, there is a lot of silliness that you’ll have to wade through. Is it worth the trip? Or did Dimension films have the right idea in streamlining the whole affair? You be the judge.

  

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[1] - Cheung’s biggest hit was All’s Well, End’s Well ’97, which made more than 40 million HKD and came in at #3 at the domestic box office that year.

[2] - By this point, Wang had also established himself as a director, making brutal action films like The Angry Ranger; Widow Warriors; and City Warriors.

[3] - Lai’s most successful film as director was Sister Cupid, starring Maggie Cheung.

[4] - Kirk Wong was known for his gritty and brutal action films, like Crime Story and Organized Crime and Triad Bureau. In Hollywood, he directed the action-comedy The Big Hit (1998) and was originally slated to direct the project that became Snakes on a Plane.

[5] - Luk is best known for directing the cult film Robotrix. His most successful film, however, was the Carol “Dodo” Cheng ghost-comedy Guests in the House.