Brawls, Bikes, and Backflips

Read Time:5 Minute, 23 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Lady Is the Boss (Zhang men ren)
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Genre: Martial Arts, Action, Comedy
Year Released: 1983, 88 Films Blu-ray 2025
Runtime: 1h 37m
Director(s): Lau Kar-leung (also known as Chia-Liang Liu)
Writer(s): Pa-Ching Huang, Tai-Heng Li, Lau Kar-leung
Cast: Lau Kar-Leung, Ku Feng, Gordon Liu Chia-Hui, Kara Wai Ying-Hung, Cheung Chin-Pang, Hsiao Ho, Wong Yu, Robert Mak Tak-Law, Lam Fai-Wong, Sun Chien, Johnny Wang Lung-Wei
Where to Watch: Available now. Order here: www.88-films.myshopify.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Martial arts comedy and ‘80s chaos collide in a wild genre experiment that doesn't always know where it's headed but barrels forward with enough charm, swing, and creative mayhem to stay entertaining. THE LADY IS THE BOSS isn’t trying to be sleek—it’s a bit awkward, very loud, and often off-balance, but that ends up being part of the fun. It might not land every punch, but it throws enough of them unexpectedly to leave a lasting impression.

Instead of diving straight into traditional martial arts tropes, the story opens with literal and metaphorical disruption. A long-standing kung fu school gets bulldozed for road expansion, and the new location is more modern, more urban, and not at all the sacred dojo its instructors are used to. When the master’s replacement arrives from America, expectations are flipped: it’s not the revered elder statesman but his flashy daughter, Chan Mei Ling. She's loud, bold, and determined to pull the school into the current time, no matter how many traditions she tramples.

The tension between old-school martial arts values and modern individualism fuels nearly every conflict here. The film positions Mei Ling as both disruptor and potential savior—her tactics are unorthodox and often absurd, but there’s an argument to be made for their effectiveness. She swaps meditation for marketing and reverence for relatability. What she lacks in subtlety, she makes up for in energy. Her fashion alone—complete with oversized sunglasses, colorful tees, and unapologetic attitude—becomes a character, challenging the rigid dress and decorum of the martial arts world she’s entering.

Of course, not everyone is ready to embrace the change. Master Wang, played by director Lau Kar-leung, represents the unwavering anchor to the past. His resistance to Mei Ling’s methods reflects a broader struggle: how does an institution rooted in discipline and hierarchy evolve when the world outside is moving at double speed? Their dynamic forms the story's core, and while it never quite deepens into the philosophical study it hints at, it sets the stage for plenty of comedy, misunderstandings, and showdowns—some more grounded than others.

The action scenes are where the film flexes its strongest muscles. Even with a more comedic tone, the fight choreography is thoughtfully staged. There’s a surprising amount of variation in the sequences—from nightclub skirmishes to impromptu street brawls and the infamous BMX beatdown. The last act, in particular, shifts gears into something more familiar to kung fu fans: extended combat set pieces with characters using their surroundings to create a creative effect.

Still, the journey to get there isn’t always smooth. THE LADY IS THE BOSS has a tonal structure that veers wildly. One moment, it’s an old-vs-new culture clash comedy; the next, it’s a social commentary—then it shifts again into a chaotic action film. Not every joke lands, and some feel unnecessarily cartoonish. Another misstep is the handling of Mei Ling’s arc. She’s introduced as the engine driving the story’s shift, yet she fades from prominence when the real danger appears. The moment combat stakes rise, her role diminishes—leaving the final act dominated by the male fighters she once challenged. It undercuts what could’ve been a more satisfying payoff, especially given the film’s early emphasis on her leadership. The baton is returned to the traditionalists when her journey should’ve peaked.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray release breathes new life into the experience. The transfer isn’t flawless, but it does justice to the source with solid color and clarity. The included commentary helps put the film into context, especially for those less familiar with the trajectory of martial arts cinema during the early 1980s.

Where this film succeeds most is in its willingness to experiment. It doesn’t always know what kind of story it wants to tell—comedy, drama, martial arts showcase, or critique of cultural assimilation—but it takes swings in every direction. For better or worse, that ambition makes it far more engaging than if it had played things safe. Watching characters embody both resistance to and acceptance of change—sometimes in the same scene—adds layers that might not always be tidy but are interesting.

Bonus Materials:
Stills Gallery
Limited Edition O-ring
Trailer
2.0 DTS-HD MA Cantonese Soundtrack with Newly Translated English Subtitles
High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
Limited Edition Fold-out Poster

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[photo courtesy of 88 FILMS, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

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