Film Name: 败家仔 / The Prodigal Son / Pull No Punches / 敗家仔
I was utterly captivated by Uncle Ying—that petite frame, those enchanting movements, that infuriating way of speaking. Late at night, he profoundly shook me. Abandoning the Taoist master’s demeanor, he shaved his eyebrows and portrayed Pan Jinlian. As a Wing Chun master who loves opera—what a harmonious existence! Unbribed by money, he dared to be himself. The name Erdi was brilliantly chosen, perfectly complementing Uncle Ying’s graceful charm.
If Yuen Biao embodied youthful carnality in the film, Uncle Ying radiated the allure of time-honored charm. Brother Kam-po was also quite good—adorable~~
Watching Uncle Ying and Kam-po teach Yuen Biao Wing Chun made me want to practice in the dead of night. It stirred my soul so deeply, I found myself wondering: Why haven’t I learned this? How thrilling!
Plot summary: As a spoiled rich kid, Yuen Biao fancies himself a martial arts prodigy, but his family has bribed his masters and opponents to cover up his incompetence—he’s actually notorious for squandering his fortune. Yet when Uncle Ying unmasks him with unwavering integrity, Yuen Biao confronts his shortcomings. Rather than succumbing to darkness, he undergoes a profound transformation and pursues Uncle Ying to become his disciple. The story unfolds with constant humor. Though Uncle Ying is slightly touched by Yuan Biao’s sudden earnestness, he remains skeptical that these feelings are genuine. He also disapproves of Yuan Biao’s motives for learning martial arts and thus ignores him.
Well, a turning point was needed. Yuan Biao wasn’t alone—another “prodigal son,” Ni Gongzi, appeared, this time even more extreme as a royal noble. While Ni Gongzi possessed genuine martial skills, his guardian, the XX Prince, feared harm to his precious child. He thus instructed his men: if Ni encountered a skilled opponent during sparring, they were to eliminate the opponent to prevent injury.
Thus, Uncle Ying inevitably became a target. No one in the troupe escaped unscathed except Yuan Biao and Uncle Ying.
Those who escaped returned to recuperate. Their lodgings were next to Uncle Ying’s senior disciple, Jin Bao. Jin Bao, though a martial man, aspired to be a well-rounded scholar and warrior—a humorous, likable fellow with a chubby daughter.
Here, after undergoing trials and demonstrating skill, Yuan Biao finally became a disciple of both Uncle Ying and Jin Bao. But Uncle Ying fell ill with asthma. When Yuan Biao took him back for treatment, they unfortunately crossed paths with Young Master Ni. Ni’s henchmen knocked Uncle Ying out cold. Uncle Ying forbade Yuan Biao from seeking revenge, knowing from his own street-wise experience that government officials were not to be trifled with.
At the memorial service, Young Master Ni came to pay his respects. He took out two of his own henchmen and then decided to break away from the family. Seeking a proper sparring match—revealing himself to be a young man of relatively upright character after all—Yuan Biao couldn’t resist and challenged him. Their sparring proved evenly matched and spectacular. Yuan Biao employed some of Jinbao’s winning techniques to defeat Ni Gongzi. After his loss, Ni Gongzi roared, “Yuan Biao, you’re amazing!” Then he burst out laughing—a moment of perfect harmony.
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