Kung Fu Soccer is an entertaining spiritual successor to Shaolin Soccer, combining women's football with martial arts, slapstick comedy and increasingly ridiculous action. The decision to centre the story around the Emei women's team gives it an identity of its own, while the football sequences are easily the highlight. The combination of kung fu and football produces plenty of inventive and amusing moments, and the actresses are convincing during the demanding action sequences. The final match is particularly enjoyable, delivering the outrageous spectacle fans of Stephen Chow will be expecting.
However, it never quite matches Shaolin Soccer's balance of comedy, heart and memorable characters. The supporting players are not given enough development, some of the humour feels familiar, and the constant slapstick can become tiring. The CGI is also inconsistent, while some of the football makes very little sense even by the film's deliberately ridiculous standards. At around 100 minutes it perhaps feels slightly longer than necessary, but there is still plenty of fun to be had. It will not appeal to everyone, particularly serious football fans, but those who enjoy Stephen Chow's style should find enough here to make it worthwhile.
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