At the end of the 1970’s, legendary Hong Kong character actor Ku Feng was still securing roles in blockbuster Shaw Brothers epics like AVENGING EAGLE (1978), THE KUNG FU INSTRUCTOR (1979), and TEN TIGERS OF KWANTUNG (1979). However, his appearances in the independent scene (often in starring roles) became more prominent and it was during this period that he cranked out the most movies, most of them lacking the budget and appeal of the Shaw Brothers productions. Ku Feng starred in such trash as THE FOUR INVINCIBLES (1979), BRUCE AND THE IRON FINGER (1979), THIRTY SIX CRAZY FISTS (1978), and LITTLE DRAGON MAID (1982). THE FOUR INVINCIBLES is one of those few movies to showcase the martial arts skills of handicapped people. The other more popular movies of this genre are DRUNKEN ARTS AND CRIPPLED FIST (1979), Chang Cheh’s CRIPPLED AVENGERS (1978), and CRIPPLED MASTERS (1984), which utilized actual handicapped performers. Other than the handicapped angle, there is nothing about THE FOUR INVINCIBLES to differentiate it from the hundreds of other martial arts comedies of this era, except for the cast. Besides Ku Feng, the movie stars respected martial artist and fight choreographer Han Kuo Sai. Two years earlier, Han Kuo Sai acted alongside Ku Feng in the early Kung Fu comedy, CRACK SHADOW BOXER (which was a hit in 1977). Han Kuo Sai also appeared in RAGE OF THE WIND (1974), DRAGON’S CLAWS (1979), and 36^TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN (1978). Tu Shu Ming essays the role of the blind fortune teller who joins the band of cripples. Tu Shu Ming appeared previously in RUTHLESS REVENGE (1979), HIS NAME IS NOBODY (1979), and LACKEY AND THE LADY TIGER (1980). Dai Sai Aan, who stars as the one armed fighter, can be seen in THE BUDDHIST FIST (1980), TEN MAGNIFICENT KILLERS (1980), and DIRTY KUNG FU (1978). THE FOUR INVINCIBLES also stars one of the most striking Hong Kong actresses of all time, Cecilia Wong, whose beauty and martial skills have graced such classics as SHAOLIN MANTIS (1978), SHAOLIN EX-MONK (1978), and THE YOUNG AVENGER (1980). HK film veteran Dean Shek also has a key role as a goofy henchman (what a stretch, huh?). Xenon Entertainment released THE FOUR INVINCIBLES on DVD as part of their Wu Tang Classics series.

Chin Lee (Ku Feng) is heir to the mantle of leadership from the ailing old Master of the Hung Clan. He was selected by the clan elders not because of blood relations, but because Chin Lee is a wise and righteous man. When the ill Hung Clan leader finally perishes, another corrupt Hung Clan member, Chen Wei, takes advantage of the situation to blame Chin Lee for their Master’s death. It turns out that Chen Wei has convinced Chin Lee’s power-hungry wife to turn against her husband. And even though she is carrying his child, she sides with Chen Wei because only he is sly enough to set himself up as leader of the clan. As his wife’s true colors become apparent, both she (a martial arts instructor) and Chen Wei surprise her husband and attack him. Chen Wei is also a master of the unbeatable Devil’s Palm technique, and he uses his vaunted skills to deliver a powerful blow to Chin Lee’s knee, crippling the once-favored heir of the Hung Clan. Chin Lee promises to get his revenge, but knowing he is no match for Chen Wei’s Devil’s Palm technique, he goes into hiding and learns to get accustomed to his new status as a cripple.

16 years later, Chen Wei and his wife (who was once Chin Lee’s spouse) have become the powerful leaders of the Hung Clan and money, power, and respect are theirs. Chen Wei has adopted Wei Fen (Cecilia Wong), the daughter of Chin Lee, who is now 16 years old and learning Kung Fu from her mother. Chen Wei does not love his adopted daughter though, as she is the blood of his enemy. The cripple Chin Lee has become a wanderer who hides his pride and problems with alcohol. One day, Chin Lee stumbles across another three handicapped men: A deaf mute (Han Kuo Sai), a blind man (To Siu Ming), and a one-armed fighter (Dai Sai Aan). These three men share a common hatred of Chen Wei, because he has turned the entire Hung Clan into a cruel gang who revel in crippling and maiming others. It doesn’t take much for Chin Lee to convince these three men to learn Kung Fu to help them attain their goal of revenge against the people responsible for their conditions. All three men go through grueling training at the hands of Chin Lee, who obtains a special form of Kung Fu for cripples that can counter the Devil’s Palm technique. A year of training commences and the group, now dubbed the Four INVINCIBLES have become unbeatable masters due to this new handicap style. Chin Lee returns with his group to the Hung Clan palace intent on defeating Chen Wei, thereby reestablishing himself as the new clan leader. However, Chin Lee does not account for the presence of his daughter who does not know that he is her true father. She is headstrong like him and challenges her father to a martial arts duel during the raid. Chin Lee must find a way to defuse the situation if he is to succeed in his mission…

THE FOUR INVINCIBLES is a schizophrenic movie made even more confusing thanks to the weak direction of Hwa Yan. The movie goes back and forth between outright THREE STOOGES-style comedic antics and moody melodrama. The problem is the humor ruins the seriousness and oppressive atmosphere that the director attempts to create. If you view this picture strictly as a martial arts comedy, the violence and grim moments impact the levity. The filmmakers achieved no middle ground. It took three men to choreograph THE FOUR INVINCIBLES and even though the action is not over-choreographed, the fights lack excitement and intensity. The pacing is awkward and the plot progression fails to generate any tension. When the final fight scene in a Kung Fu movie lacks conviction and suspense, you know something is seriously wrong. It doesn’t help that the villains just suck. The rule of thumb for a low budget martial arts movie is that the ending should be exciting enough to justify sitting through it (hundreds of bad movies out there redeem themselves by having totally kick-ass fight scenes). 

With all that’s wrong with THE FOUR INVINCIBLES, we should mention the good stuff. Though the plotting, direction, and fighting are lame, the movie crams in every outrageous scenario and clichés that it can. For instance, bathroom humor plays a key part in THE FOUR INVINCIBLES. The movie is outrageous, yes. But is it good—no. The best thing going for this flick is the performance of Ku Feng (no surprises there). Even dubbed with a bad voice, Feng is the only one who plays it straight while everyone else goofs around. His serious performance becomes surreal at times because the drama that he delivers clashes with the foolishness around him. Imagine if Orson Welles ever appeared in a THREE STOOGES short and you’ll catch my drift. Ku Feng proved he can do comedy (check him out in the hilarious CRACK SHADOW BOXER), yet he is the only member of the cast to exhibit depth. The supporting actors succeed in their roles, but their performances are more akin to comedy than anything else. Cecilia Wong brightens things up a bit with her beauty, charisma, and martial arts skill, though her screen time is too limited to save the film.

The colorful Main Menu reflects the front cover artwork, and adds some tinny Chinese stock music. The only extras on the disc are the bonus fight scenes from the other movies in the Wu Tang Classics collection:

• JACKIE AND THE 36 CRAZY FISTS 
• WU TANG CHAMP AGAINST CHAMP 
• BUDDHA ASSASSINATOR 
• EAGLE VS. SILVER FOX 
• INVINCIBLE OBSESSED FIGHTER