This film is pure genius. What more could you possibly say about a movie that offers not only Bolo Yeung in drag, but also a break dancing fight sequence and martial arts fighting dwarfs? "Breathing Fire" is possibly the funniest martial arts film of all time, I really can not recommend it highly enough.
The film's storyline is largely irrelevant but goes something like this: Annie comes to David for help when her parents are murdered. David then takes Annie to stay with his brother and his two sons, Charlie and Tony. When David suffers an injury, he instructs Charlie and Tony in his unique martial arts style so that they can protect Annie from her parents' murderers.
The plot truly is thinner than Nicole Ritchie, but this only adds to the enjoyment. By far the most entertaining aspect of the film is the padding between the set pieces. Some of my favourite moments include a Karate Kid inspired training montage, complete with bowling balls and suspended watermelons. I also loved the ridiculous flashback to Vietnam (in which the main characters look exactly the same as they do 15 or so years later!) and I almost wet myself when Mickey started to break dance - while painting a wall.
Bolo Yeung fans can not afford to miss the opportunity to see their hero kick ass while robbing a bank - in drag. Unfortunately for Bolo, he doesn't have a huge role and has to suffer the indignity of being beaten up by the 100 pound kid from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Nevertheless, the chance to see Bolo wearing a floral dress more than compensates. The fight scenes that don't include Bolo are also memorable. Mickey, the break dancer, positively steals the show by demonstrating his dancing martial arts skills in rhinestone covered leather (no less). The fight involving the kick ass dwarfs is also one of the more memorable that I've seen in a long time.
The acting is appalling to the extent that it defies belief and the dialogue makes Showgirls look like All About Eve. And yet, I can't think of a better way to waste 75 minutes of your time than watching this marvellous piece of crap. Highly recommended!