It's pretty common for Hong Kong comedies of a certain era to also contain some of the best martial arts action ever put to film. Can you imagine if an American comedy did that? American movies tend to be too concerned with staying within one genre, afraid to be goofy if they want to be taken seriously. Hong Kong movies don't have that problem, and the theoretically jarring yet actually satisfying balance between silly hijinks and deadly fights is practically the beating heart of its filmmaking industry.
'The Millionaires' Express (1986)' is, first and foremost, a madcap comedy, and it's also, first and foremost, genuinely funny. It may not provoke many belly laughs, but it almost constantly provokes chuckles with its distinct blend of slapstick physical humour and fast-paced verbal wit. Sprinkled in and amongst the laughter are several jaw-dropping stunts that essentially feel like what would happen if 'Looney Tunes' was live action, prat falls off multi-story buildings and casual strolls along the roof of a moving train. It's a wonder nobody died when making this (as far as I'm aware), and the number of injuries that were sustained by the cast and crew seem to pale in comparison to what logic would suggest they ought to have suffered. That's not even taking into account the fight scenes, which infrequently pepper the first two thirds before fully taking over the final act and transforming the feature into a certified action extravaganza. As is often the case with these kinds of movie, the last movement is where things really go off the rails. With some entries in the genre, the likelihood this is going to happen is the only real thing that keeps you watching during the earlier segments; thankfully, that isn't the case with this one. The feature is a lot of fun before its climax knocks your socks off, even if its plot is a bit all over the place until it coalesces for its final confrontation.
In essence, the affair is formatted as a series of loosely connected skits starring a variety of quirky characters (only some of whom become more significant as the narrative proceeds) before it then brings its disparate elements together into a single sprawling set-piece that sees its various players pull together to defend a town from a gang of criminals. While the picture can be a little disorienting at first due to the decisive lack of connective tissue between some of its scenes, it eventually becomes clear what it's doing. Everything falls into place by the time the last movement is about to occur, and the flick becomes much more focused as it prepares to pull you to the edge of your seat with its mighty martial arts. Yuen Biao does some absolutely spectacular acrobatics during his fights, with most of them inspiring genuine gasps of disbelief when they occur. Sammo Hung's notorious hard hits can be clearly seen on screen, Cynthia Rothrock's trademark high kicks make an impression, and Yukari Oshima suavely slices her way through plenty of opponents. There are many other cameos, far too many to name here, and it turns the piece into a veritable who's who of Kung Fu that's delightful to witness.
Ultimately, this is a really solid martial arts movie. Despite one or two dodgy jokes that haven't aged well, the affair is surprisingly funny. While entirely unafraid to amuse with silly antics, it's also really eager to impress with spectacular set-pieces. The action is amazing, making use of its all-star cast and Hung's playful yet confident direction to truly entertain every time it occurs. There's even a fight between two little kids who can throw down better than many adults. Although its story is a little confusing at first and it lacks any real theming, the film remains enjoyable from start to finish. It's really good.
