My favourite moment in Motown producer Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon (1985) is when a packed movie theatre showing Enter The Dragon is interrupted randomly by two break-dancers and a boom-box, who are then shouted down and told to leave. Right before the unforgettable Sho’nuff (played by Julius J. Carry III in an indomitable performance) busts in the theatre with his crew to demand, “Who Is The Master?” While Taimak as our hero, Leroy Green (aka Bruce Lee-roy), might be a bit stiff acting-wise, his wholesome, virginal character is quite endearing, particularly his romance with music video television host, Laura Charles (Vanity, glamorous). The bad guys, to paraphrase Enter The Dragon are like something out of a comic book, which speaks to its family friendly target audience, sleazy boss Eddie Arakadian (Christopher Murney) and his mobbish goons can’t compare to the righteous fury and stylish insanity of Sho’nuff with his top-knot and shades (“KISS MY CONVERSE!”). While the story gets repetitive with so many attempted kidnappings of Vanity’s character, and whole sequences only exist to sell the soundtrack (such as DeBarge’s ‘Rhythm Of The Night’), there are hilarious characters and touches like Leroy’s cool little brother (Leo O’Brien) or its cross-cultural appropriation of Asian and African-American stereotypes. It all builds to a climactic battle set to Dwight David’s excellent title track where the fighters start to develop glowing powers with every move. Directed by Michael Schultz with early roles for William H. Macy, Chazz Palminteri and Keshia Knight Pulliam. A Motown-produced martial arts comedy musical that is silly yet sweet; The Last Dragon is a true 1980s wonder! Recommended.
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