3.5/5 stars
Boxing films may be a rarity in Hong Kong cinema, but when they come along – be it Nick Cheung Ka-fai’s astonishing transformation in Unbeatable or Stephy Tang Lai-yan’s introspective star turn in karate drama The Empty Hands – they rarely disappoint. We can add We Are Legends to this list of high-quality sports movies.
Based loosely on the story of real-life mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Xiong Dixin, this film, directed by Daniel Chan Yee-heng ( Young and Dangerous: Reloaded ), is predictable yet entertaining. Its characters are likeable and it pays attention to the gritty detail of the sport. Even the relatively inexperienced cast acquit themselves well given the physical demands of their roles.
Since they were children, orphaned siblings Jack (Edward Ma Chi-wai, To Love or Not to Love ) and Bunny (Lam Yiu-sing, Keyboard Warriors ) have been informally adopted by their orphanage’s benevolent janitor (Eric Kot Man-fai), who raised them at the boxing gym opened by his older sister (martial arts veteran Yuen Qiu in a non-action role).
The hard-working Jack splits his time between manual labour and training for amateur MMA contests (for which he has cultivated quite a cocky on-stage persona), but often neglects his all-too-considerate girlfriend (Wiyona Yeung Lau-ching). Meanwhile, Bunny indulges in the superficial glory of illegal brawls – much to Jack’s disappointment.
As the estranged brothers get to know each other again as Jack prepares intensely for his first professional bout (against a familiar foe, played by Jason Li Zong-yan), he learns to appreciate his girlfriend’s affection. We Are Legends never feels restricted by its genre tropes, whether the customary training montages or the seeds of revenge planted by side characters.
While the easy charm of his lead actors helps, Chan’s decision to focus on the realities of a professional boxing career also pays off. Yet for all the excitement that the battles in the ring bring, it is what happens outside it – such as the characters’ unexpectedly amusing race against the clock to gain/lose weight before their weigh-in – that will be most refreshing for a general audience.
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