I knew SBS Cult Movies screened Wheels On Meals (1984) occasionally on a Saturday night, much as they would any Jackie Chan Hong Kong martial arts flick from the 1980s, and all I recalled was that Jackie rode around on rollerblades. Turns out that was a false memory implant and that it’s a skateboard you see Jackie Chan ride around, or more specifically Jackie and his skateboard stunt double (for the close up tricks). Directed by martial arts legend Sammo Hung who also co-stars, Wheels On Meals is set in Barcelona and stars Chan and Yeun Biao as two cousins who run a food van in the city square (“Everybody’s Kitchen!” is the name). The movie is a comedy first and foremost and the two guys get into wacky Silent Comedy style situations with their neighbours, traffic cops and motorcycle delinquents, all of which are set ups for elaborate stunts and wacky gags. A plot starts to emerge when their private detective friend Moby (Hung with a perm) is on the case of a missing persons case, which might just tie into the new girl Sylvia (Lola Forner) that the cousins have a crush on. However, she may also be a princess in line for a throne that is being protected by an evil step-brother who has sent out a bunch of hoods to kidnap her. Cue a climax that involves the heroic trio of Chan, Biao and Hung storming a castle – and leading to an acclaimed martial arts fight between Jackie Chan and Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez (I always remember him as the assassin in Grosse Point Blank and John Cusack’s martial arts instructor) which was pretty spectacular. Anyway, Wheels On Meals is alot of fun, and features plenty of stellar Eighties fashions, colourful windbreakers and bright pants. Very silly and amazing stunt work. Available to stream on SBS On Demand. Recommended.
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