Undercover Punch & Gun Review: An 80s Movie Throwback With Kicking And Comedy

Release date: June 8, 2021
Running time: 91 minutes
Directed By: Lui Koon Nam and Frankie Tam
Starring: Philip Ng, Van Ness Wu, Andy On, Chi Shuai, Feng Wenjuan, Aaron Mustapha Aziz (Aaron Aziz), Meng Jia, Aka Chio, Jiang Luxia

An undercover cop’s daring plan to infiltrate a notorious drug ring is severely compromised when a rival agency attacks mid-trade and kills the gang’s leader in the action-packed MMA thriller Undercover Punch & Gun.  Their cover blown, both teams are forced to unite and take to the high seas in an attempt to overthrow the ruthless smuggler behind it all. 

Undercover Punch & Gun has a martial arts pedigree that means it will have plenty of high flying action, and the film does not disappoint.  Coreographed by Philip Ng, this film has some high intensity, high energy fight sequences.  The characters use martial arts, MMA, and firearms to accomplish their task and these are all exciting to watch.  All three main characters show off their fighting skills with some imaginative fight sequences.  I especially liked Van Ness for his very unpredictable, free flowing style.  He played a sort of dilatant who also was quite skilled, and it was fun to see his humorous yet effective fighting.  But the film also is a comedy as well, thanks to some funny sequences by Van Ness Wu.  The movie has a slapstick style comedy that adds some levity to the overall film.  It is an enjoyable combination, and a throwback to some older Jackie Chan and other 80s Hong Kong films.  

But one thing that stood out that I wasn't expecting was the film's soundtrack.  It has a surprisingly good jazz soundtrack throughout that really fits the mood of this film.  It helps to give the scenes high energy but also to highlight the whimsical nature of some of it.  There are also dramatic pieces and other mood-setting sounds, but the Jazz really stood out.  However, like a lot of Chinese action films, the movie uses some CG for explosions and fire, which is noticeable.  I wish the film would have gone all out on these as the CG really takes away from what should have been exciting moments.  Additionally, the story is convoluted with sub plots and characters intertwining.  It made it tough to follow at first, but eventually I got to know everyone and it became an easier experience.  And finally, the film takes place in a few locales, but they often look similar, which means that you don't get much visual variety here.  

Undercover Punch & Gun's combination of action, humor, and strong soundtrack will entertain you while punching your funny bone.  

Rent it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

To learn more about the film, check out my interview with the stars of the movie: Philip Ng, Andy On, and Van Ness Wu!

Undercover Punch & Gun is available digitally and on demand on June 8, 2021.  

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.