While the Hong Kong cinema output from the ’80s and ’90s was highly influential, it also had a reputation for producing some truly odd or bizarre films. One such film came from director Lai Kai-Ming (Erotic Ghost Story III) in the 1991 feature film The Blue Jean Monster.
I like to think I know quite a bit about that era of cinema, but I have to say, I have no recollection of ever having heard of it. Shame on me for this oversight. I’ve finally rectified this situation with the Blu-ray release from one of my favorite labels, 88 Films, as part of their 88 Asia Collection. It’s a wacky, enjoyable experience, but it’s precisely that: enjoyable.
Tsu Hsiang (Shing Fui-On) is a dedicated cop willing to go the extra mile to get the bad guy. His wife, Chu (Wong Siu-Fung), is pregnant and on the verge of giving birth. One night, while working, he bravely steps in to try and thwart a bank robbery when everything goes to hell, and he ends up dead in a junkyard. This isn’t the end, though.
For unknown reasons, a cat sits on his chest and glows before he’s struck by lightning and brought back to life. His body is ravaged, but somehow, he’s alive(?) or at least walking among the living. He keeps it a secret from Chu for as long as he can, with his only concern being to live long enough for the birth of his child and to see those who killed him brought to justice.
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There’s no question that The Blue Jean Monster borrows heavily from the 1988 action/comedy Dead Heat starring Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo. While that film was an odd duck in its own right, Blue Jean goes for broke with Tsu eating noodles only to have them come sliding right out the wound on his stomach, jokes that would never fly in the modern world, urine in the face, the use of an iron to recharge the main characters strength, and large breasts being popped like water balloons. Those are only a few highlights; there’s so much more.
Shing Fui-On is a well-known Chinese character actor best remembered as the villain in John Woo’s action classic The Killer. He takes center stage and proves how good he is at also carrying a picture. Japanese actor Jun Kunimura plays the unnamed villain. Kunimura is a highly prolific actor appearing in films like Audition, Black Rain, Godzilla: Final Wars, and many more.
Much of the film relies on comedy that doesn’t always translate but, at other times, kind of shocks you. It’s one of the most politically incorrect comedies I’ve seen in quite some time. The final thirty minutes ups the ante in the action department and goes way over the top to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
The 88 Films release features a limited-edition slipcover, a double-sided foldout poster, an interview with assistant director Sam Leong, a trailer, a stills gallery, and a reversible cover. The HD presentation looks and sounds fantastic, helping the colors to pop, especially during the electrocution scenes.
The Blue Jean Monster is an unexpectedly bizarre film that delivers a hysterical good time.
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