Beaming like a belligerent Buddha throughout this no-fun kung fu epic, Donnie Yen plays the eponymous Wing Chun master, who stove off hunger, poverty and half the Japanese army during China’s WW2 occupation – by kicking ass!
Unfortunately, Man’s extraordinary biography makes for an awkward, inauthentic-feeling biopic.
The historical aspects are grey and lack gravity, the performances are broad bordering on widescreen and too many of the retro action sequences involve ageing HK stars slapping the chuff out of stunt doubles while the supporting cast gawp and gurn.
Surely the man who taught Bruce Lee deserves better?
