Stoner (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All

Despite its title, the film isn't a marihuana epic, but follows Lazenby as the titular Australian policeman who heads to Hong Kong to track down the drug smugglers responsible for the death of his girlfriend. At the same time, Mao plays a Taiwanese agent investigating the same case, tracing the mysterious purchase of a number of ships. Their efforts lead them both to the island of underworld kingpin Mr. Sin, where they are rather easily captured. Needless to say, the villain is not the most competent, coming up with a strange scheme of caging the two and trying to make them take drugs, pushing them to join forces and bring his evil empire down - something he really should have seen coming.

As might be expected, Stoner is a pretty wacky affair, with a great deal of 1970s style psychedelic colour and far out costumes and sets, and some wonderfully far out dialogue. Whilst this does make any drama a little hard to take seriously, it certainly makes for a great deal of fun, and the film is incredibly entertaining throughout in the finest high camp fashion. The cast all live up to expectations, with Lazenby great in the lead role, looking a good deal sleazier than he did in In Her Majesty's Secret Service thanks to a superbly unkempt moustache. Angela Mao is similarly excellent, and though fans may wish she had a little more screen time, she effectively steals all of her scenes thanks to another commanding, kick ass performance. As in so many of her films, Sammo Hung shows up as an evil thug, mainly to act as a human punch bag, though this time he does at least get to have Betty Ting as his girlfriend.

The film basically works as an oddball Bond spoof by way of Enter the Dragon with director Feng throwing in as many familiar and then-hip elements as he can cram into the short running time. As a result, and no doubt also due to its troubled production history, the film is a bit of a crazy mess, and things do get a bit scattershot in places. However, this only serves to make it all the more enjoyable, and Feng has the good sense to keep the action coming thick and fast, with an impressive number of fight scenes that are generally well choreographed and inventive, with Mao tearing her way through amusingly never ending hordes of henchmen and Lazenby acquitting himself surprisingly well.

Stoner really never has a dull moment, and provides action packed, groovy entertainment from start to finish. An instant must-see cult item thanks to its magnificent, once in a lifetime cast, it arguably manages to transcend any fevered wonderings as to what could have been had Bruce Lee lived and starred, and stands as an unconventional kung fu classic in its own right.

by James Mudge - BeyondHollywood.com