You loved him in For Your Height only playing the diminutive Secret Agent 00. Now, everyone’s favorite two-foot nine Pilipino action star Weng Weng is back, this time in the outrageous Kung Fu Western, D’Wild Wild Weng. Of all the Weng Weng movies I’ve seen, this one might be my favorite.
Weng stars as Mr. Weng, who along with his Kung Fu fighting pal, Gordon (Max Laurel) are on their way to Santa Monica. They soon learn the place is overrun by the evil Sebastian (Romy Diaz) and his gang of ruffians. It then falls on Mr. Weng and Gordon to liberate the town.
There are some things I never thought I’d see in my lifetime but can be found in this movie: A remake of The Magnificent Seven starring a little person. (It’s more like The Magnificent 1 ½.) A flashback told by a man with no tongue. A Native American tribe comprised of little people. Folks, this movie has everything: Mexican banditos dressed like Slow Poke Rodriguez, Ninjas, and an ending that features the hero sneaking into the enemy camp when his sidekick throws him over the wall like a human lawn dart. Also, Weng Weng has Kung Fu training montages set to mariachi music.
And get this: Weng Weng SINGS! Remember that scene in For Your Height Only when Weng Weng flew around using a jet pack? Well, somehow this scene manages to be even more unbelievable.
D’Wild Wild Weng exists in a weird time warp, which adds to the charm. At first, it looks like it’s set in the Old West, but about halfway through we see someone riding around in a dune buggy. The fact that Samurais and Ninjas are also in league with the villain just adds to the WTF factor.
Once again, Weng Weng throws himself into his fight scenes with gusto. He kicks lots of ass as he uses his height difference to his advantage. He even performs his own crazy stunts (where could they possibly find a double?), which gives many of his scenes a Jackie Chan kind of vibe. Sure, the film starts to stall here and there in the second act, but overall, this is a jaw-dropping good time.
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