Martial arts talent definitely runs in this family. Cheng Tai-nun married into it, but she has
as much chops as anyone. She is also surprisingly young and pretty, but she is
the still the elder in Lau Kar-leung’s My
Young Auntie, which screens during this year’s Old School Kung Fu Fest at
the Metrograph.
To
prevent his wastrel criminal brother Yu Yung-sheng from inheriting his estate,
a childless landowner marries Cheng, a trusted servant and martial arts
champion, to insure his nephew Yu Ching-chuen becomes his rightfully
beneficiary. Immediately after his death, she quickly brings him the will and
deeds for safe keeping. Of course, the genial, older middle-aged Yu is not expecting
an auntie like her, so miscommunication and misunderstandings inevitably ensue.
It is even more so the case with Yu’s son Charlie, a westernized college
student.
He
definitely thinks she is hot, but hopelessly square in her traditional ways, so
he and his jerky pals try to teach her a lesson in Hong Kong hipness.
Unfortunately, while they having their fun, Yung-sheng’s colorful cast of
henchmen steal the estate documents. Naturally, that means Cheng and Charlie
will have to take them back, but they might need an assist from his father (her
nephew) and his skilled brothers.
Auntie is definitely a comedy
with the emphasis on physicality. Frankly, some of the jokes will strike
contemporary viewers as rather boorish. However, there is no denying Kara Hui’s
chops and presence as the titular Auntie. Trained as a professional dancer, she
was clearly blessed with tremendous grace and flexibility. You can definitely
see how her experience with one sort of choreography laid her in good stead for
another.
There
is a lot of “Tiger Claw” kind of Kung Fu going on that looks absolutely insane,
but Lau totally sells it as director, fight choreographer, and co-star, playing
Old Nephew Yu. In fact, he takes over the big climatic match-up with Yu
Yung-sheng, which is likely to produce mixed emotions in fans. As much as we
want to see Kara Hui settle accounts, there is something satisfying about
watching the grey-haired veteran throw down with authority.
