He may not be Orson Welles, but Asian wunderkind Stephen Chow isn't about to let that slow him down. He wrote, produced, directed, and even opted to star in Kung Fu Hustle. The film, which pays homage to the very genre it spoofs, delivers this typically stagnant spring movie season a desperately needed kick to the funny bone.

While Chow received minor acclaim with his last directorial effort, Shaolin Soccer, it is Hustle that will likely make moviegoers around the world stand up and take notice of his myriad talents. Chow plays Sing, a wayward young adult trying his hand at mischief. He longs to become a member of the widely feared Axe Gang. A routine grift in Pig Sty Alley leads to a huge brawl between the Axe Gang and a band of local kung fu masters. Pandemonium ensues.

The script, while inventive, is hardly the driving force of this wickedly maniacal picture. Chow has created what could best be described as a living cartoon. The theatrical scenery, musical numbers, and outlandish camera-work somehow fuse together perfectly, leaving the audience both startled and riddled with laughter. The fight scenes are a bit lengthy, especially during the last act of the film, but that's to be expected. And while the jokes don't always hit home, the ones that do are truly hilarious. Kung Fu Hustle, while technically a foreign film, will likely speak to most audience members through its universal languages of humor, innocence, and unbridled zaniness.

Rating: B+