Shaolin Temple 2: Kids from Shaolin (4 Stars)

This was Jet Li's second film, made when he was 20. It's packaged as the second film in the Shaolin Temple trilogy, but it has nothing to do with the first film, neither in continuity nor in style. Jet Li plays a different character in this film, and unlike the first film this is a comedy. It could even be considered a children's film, since most of the actors are aged between 8 and 12.

A man who was previously a Shaolin monk rescues 8 boys from a village plundered by bandits and brings them up as his own sons, teaching them Shaolin kung fu. On the opposite side of the river there is a rich family with 9 daughters. The father is a master of Wutang sword fighting, which he teaches to his oldest daughter, but he longs for a male heir to carry on the family tradition. There are romantic attractions between members of the two families, but the Wutang father demands a price of 10 cows for each of his daughters, while the poor Shaolin family only owns three and a half cows. Yes, I told you it was a comedy.

There are long action scenes with great martial arts action, especially at the end, but most of the film plays for laughs. I couldn't stop laughing while watching the young children fight one another. This film may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it.