Kung Fu Hustle: A Spoof of Eastern and Western Cultures

What do you get when you mix American culture from the 40’s and Chinese culture? The answer to this question is Stephen Chow’s film Kung Fu Hustle (2005). In this motion picture, there are clearly aspects of not only physical comedy but also a comedic spoof of both Chinese and American cultures. Being a Chinese film, it is obvious that there would be an eastern cultural influence, but throughout the film there are many instances where American culture is present. Whether it is the wardrobe, characters, or even the settings, there is a great deal of American influence in Chow’s movie.

One of the scenes that provides a vivid picture of the American influence in the motion picture is the opening sequence. Here the viewer sees a gang inside the police station hassling some of the deputies and the commissioner. The leader of the gang is shown beating up the chief of police and having his way with the law. Essentially this is a common characteristic of American films that include gangs, especially the mafia. In movies such as Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972) or Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990), the audience is presented with men who are part of the mafia or mob, respectively, and are seen roughing up police or having control over the police chief. Gangs require this control in order to run their illegal operations without having police interfere with their business. Likewise, the men from these movies show overprotective qualities toward their respective women, which is exactly how the gang leader in Kung Fu Hustle reacts to the treatment of his mistress. The reactions of the gang leader coincide with those found in American films about the mafia.

Another important factor within this sequence is when the gang heads outside and encounters a sound. When the sound gets closer, they realize it is a rival gang marching toward them. The Axe gang, as they are introduced, surrounds them on all sides of the intersection. What is important about this scene is the fact that when the Axe gang approaches, everyone reacts accordingly. The audience sees even the police station shutting down. How this scene connects with American film is the fact that when the police station was closing down, the camera moved down the street and watched the windows close one-by-one in a line. This consistent movement and traditional shot is found in the standard American western. In addition, the fact that both gangs meet on the street and are forced to face off with one another follows the same path of a showdown in American western films. Even further, the leaders of both gangs fight but the victor is from the stronger gang. These images are reminiscent of American films in that their shot sequence and interactions between the characters is similar.

Another part of this scene provides the audience with a connection to American culture through the fact that the Axe gang can be found wearing suits. For gangsters, the suit is the typical uniform to set them apart from others and create a sense of professionalism among the group. This is no exception when dealing with American films. As previously stated, both The Godfather and Goodfellas show the main characters dressed in suits. Because the wardrobe used to outfit the Axe gang is identical to that of other American gangs, it is no wonder where they get this idea. To further the fact that this is an American tradition, this same scene shows members of the Axe gang pulling up to the street in black cars. These vehicles are modeled after automobiles found in America during the 1920’s even up to the 1950’s. Many American films and historical settings place mafia gangsters around the period of prohibition, which lasted through