HEROES OF THE EAST (Hong Kong, 1978)
Directed by: Lau Kar-leung
Starring: Gordon Liu, Yuka Mizuno, Yasuaki Kurata

A classic screwball comedy, only with Mantis Fists and Skirt Kicks replacing quips and wisecracks, this is the kung fu comedy elevated to high art. Ah To (Gordon Liu) is strong-armed into an arranged marriage with the daughter of his dad’s Japanese business partner. The blushing bride, Kuda, and the grim groom soon discover that they’re both martial arts mavens, but they can’t agree on whether Japanese or Chinese skills are superior. So they decide to settle their differences with sword, spear, and throwing stars, gleefully laying waste to their posh new home in the process. Finally, Kuda goes full ninja, and Ah To declares her “sneaky.” Kuda takes it personally and her entire family decides to head to Hong Kong to teach their Chinese in-law a lesson. Combat is couples counseling, and lethal strikes are love bites in LKL’s ode to the sweet, sweet mayhem of marriage.